
.....■•■■..■■■■■■■■■iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

J3V310? 

Chap. Copyright No. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




CLARA B. HARDY. 



liee 

or 

CLARA B. HARDY. 



THE 

Account of licr Brief Work in Mexico 
and Final Call "home," 

ALSO 

Extracts From Many of her Letters, a 
Beautiful Essay. Selected Poems; 

AND 

CLOSING TRIBUTES 

BY 

Rev. W. C. Tilden, Krs. C. D. /Morris, Krs. p. B. 
Gray, /^rs. P. R. Harris, Rev. R. E. Burton, 

BY 

REV. G. N. GARDNER. 



ILLUSTRATED 



BlNGHAMTON, N. Y. 

H. D. Van Brunt, 
1900. 






Library of Congrest 

Two Copies Received 
JAN 17 1901 

CopjjdgM ertr, 

JQtt. 'C, iqco 

»&.&<?3.tA... 

SECOND COPY 



3 V -a/as 



COPYRIGHT, 1900, 

BY • 

REV. G. N. GARDNER 



^ 



/3 




M 




REV. G. N. GARDNER. 



PREFACE. 



It has been thought by the family and 
friends, that a higher tribute could not be paid 
to the memory of "Our Beloved Clara B. 
Hardy," than to record in book form, her 
noble sacrificing life and early, but not pre- 
mature death. In a personal letter to Miss 
Hardy's parents after her death, Miss Gal van, 
tier successor in Pueblo Mexico, expressed the 
true sentiment of all who really knew Miss 
Hardy, when she said, "I loved her so much." 
We indeed loved her, but God loved her more 
and has removed her to a higher sphere of life 
while we remain to pay our loving tribute to 
the memory of one who has finished her work 
and entered intd the eternal rest which Jesus 
gives. 

Very earnestly is it desired that this "Memo- 
rial Volume" may be placed in the hands of 
our young people who will respond to the call 
of God and carry forth to consummation, the 
glorious work that Miss Hardy began. 

Miss Hardy will be remembered by what she 
did, but more especially by what she was. She 
did a grand and noble work, but she was 
iaithful and obedient unto death. 



Grateful acknowledgement is made to the 
friends who so kindly supplied important mat- 
ter for this volume, also for the beautiful and 
loving tributes by: Rev. W. C Tilden, Mrs. 
C. D. Morris, Rev. R. E. Burton, Mrs. F 
R. Harris and Mrs. T. B. Gray. 

G. N. Gardner. 



ANOTHER. 

Another blossom has been plucked 
By the Master's gentle hand ; 

Another of our loved ones gone 
To Heaven's glory land. 

Another vacant place is made 
In the mission-Held today: 

Another call, and earth scenes tied. 
As she sweetly passed away. 

Another link in the golden chain 
Has passed through Heaven's gate 

Another life in God's great plan 
For others could not wait. 

Another smile on the Saviour's face 

To welcome Clara home ; 
Another soul is clothed in white 

Among the ransomed throng. 



CHAPTER I 



CHILDHOOD DAYS. 



BEAUTIFUL for situation, the joy of the 
whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the 
sides of the north of the city of the 
Great King. Zion is beautiful because 
it is the work of the Great King and the city 
of His choice. Some places are naturally 
beautiful and some are made beautiful to us as 
we associate with them the life of some dear 
one. 

Some twelve miles east from fowanda, Pa., 
Orwell, Bradford County, Pa., lies the old 
Hardy homestead. It is beautifully situated on 
a gentle slope facing the south and overlooking 
a most charming landscape. In the distance 
a mountain lifts itself against the clear blue 
sky, while at its base flows a gentle stream 
through a beautiful valley with its suggestive 
farm-houses and rolling meadows showing signs 
of wealth and prosperity. 

Such were the surroundings of li our beloved 
Clara's " birth-place and early childhood home. 
Vivid to my mind are the memories of those 
fascinating play grounds, and I sometimes 
imagine myself a child again, sitting beneath 



those towering mapies which overshadowed the 
murmuring brook where many happy hours 
were spent in childish play. But scenes have 
changed. We, that were then children, are no 
longer children, and the all-absorbing character 
of this volume is no more subject to tearful 
partings, sad memories and the anxiety i f h»iiLf 
suspense She has been translated into the 
Kingdom of God, to enjoy the beautiful 
of Heaven and forever dwell beneath the 
shadow of the "Tree of Life.*" It is not the 
present state of the homestead that makes it 
attractive, but because it was the birth place of 
"our beloved Clara." Bethlehem's manger is 
no longer to be found, neither can there be dis- 
covered any traces of Calvary's Cross, yet to 
all who know and love Christ, the memory of 
them is sacred, because associated with His 
wonderful, earthly career. 

ANCESTRY. 

Miss Hardy's paternal grand-father, Geo. \V. 
Hardy, was born in Hull, England, in 1S05, 
and sailed for America when but foureeen years 
of age, settling first at Friendsville, Pa., where 
he learned the blacksmith's trade. Later Rev. 
Hezekiah West, a Baptist clergyman, gave him 
his daughter Eunice in marriage and the happy, 
young couple settled in Orwell, Pa., on the 
place known as the Hardy homestead. 

10 



On January 3, 1832, their tirst son appeared 
in the home, whom they named William H. 
At the age of twenty-three William H. Hardy 
was married to Charlotte J. Moore, a daughter 
of James and Phebie Moore, of East Rush. Pa. 

In the bloom of life as they were, William 
and Charlotte settled on a section of the Hardy 
homestead in Orwell, Pa., and began tilling the 
soil. Six years later a change took place in 
their home. War had been declared, and the 
young farmer was drafted, and loyal to his 
country, went forth to the conflict. Pen pic- 
tures alone can be found to portray the scenes 
of that sad day. As company "I" 'marched 
away, Charlotte J. Hardy said a sad goodbye 
to her brave, youug husband, and a long sus- 
pense ensued. 

After serving his country well, William H. 
was welcomed home in weakness, never again 
to be the stalwart, robust young man that 
bravely marched away. 

HOME. 

On March 13, 1871, the home was cheered 
by the appearance of their fourth child, Clara 
B. Quite enough has been said regarding the 
external surroundings of Miss Hardy's home, 
but they cannot take the place of the inner 
circles of the home. It is true that many hours 
were spent in the outdoor air, but not away 

11 



from that father's and mother's love, nor 

beyond their parental protection and care. 

Although Clara possessed a beautiful face. 
capabfe of the deepesl expression, there 

nothing unusual about her early life. She « 
of a mild and irentle disposition and always 
manifested the Neatest tenderness among her 
playmates and in the family, winning, even in 
her childhood days, the hearts of all her 
associates. 

EARLY SCHOOL DAYS. 

When six years of age Clara's early school 
life began, about one mile from her home at 
the place known as the Woodrough School. 
She was a bright scholar and always stood well 
both in class and deportment. It should not be 
forgotten that her out-of-school hours were 
spent largely in outdoor play as is the case with 
country childeen. The writer was one of her 
school-mates in those early days, when we 
acquired a great fondness for each oiher. which 
in after years developed into Christian fellow- 
ship in the work of Christ. Little did she 
know then of the life that lay before her. which 
in later years she said she knew was mapped 
out by 'her Saviour's hand, and each path 
pointed out to her by the Holy Spirit. 

Among her earlv playmates was a younger 
sister, Leia, who had grown into her love and 

V2 



affection as only a sister can. But when Lela 
was but six years of age, that dread disease — 
diptheria — entered the home and deprived Clara 
of her beloved sister : Lela going on a few 
years before the one who laid down her life 
for Christ in Mexico. Grieved at the death of 
their youngest daughter, the family began to 
bestow more affection on Clara, which she re- 
ceived and responded to with the greatest 
humility. 

CHANGES. 

When Clara was about eleven years of age, 
radical changes took place at the Hardy home- 
stead, at which time William removed his fam- 
ily to Herrick, Pa., and four years later to 
East Rush, Susquehanna County, Pa., the 
present home. 



13 



CHAPTER II. 

GRADUATED. 

.After attending the rural schools at her 
home until the age of fourteen. Miss Hardy 
entered the public schools of Binghamton. 
N Y., where she passed preliminary Regents. 
At this time she was light hearted and greatly 
enioyed the society of her class-mates and 
acquaintances. Yet unsaved, she was uncon- 
scious of the dangers that surrounded her path 
and the subtle temptations that lay before her: 
and moved freely in the circles of society of 
which she was the merry-making one and often 
the center of attraction. 

AT MONTBOSE. 

Life becoming more real to Miss Hardy she 
now began to feel the responsibilty of life, and 
the necessity of a young lady attaining a posi- 
tion of independence and thus sought opportu- 
nity for a higher education. Enthused with the 
thought, and somewhat weighing the cost, she 
returned early in the autumn of 1891. to her 
home at East Rush, Pa., where complete pre- 
paration and arrangements were made. At 

14 



the beginning of the fall term of 1891, Miss 
Hardy entered the class ^t the M on trot e High 
School, of which Prof. James was principal. 
Three years was the regular course ; but an 
active brain and straightforward purpose car- 
ried her to the consummation of her course in 
two years, she being graduated in the class of 
'93 with high 1 onors. 

GRADUATING ESSAY. 

OPEN SESAME. 

There has been handed down to us in the 
legends of literature the story of Cassim and 
the cave called Sesame. Who has not heard of 
the cave called Sesame, and that the only way 
to open it was to stand at the door and cry, 
"Open Sesame !" Aleo of Cassim, who after 
compelling his brother, Ali Baba, to tell him 
the secret, entered the cave, but once there, his 
mind was so absorbed in the immense wealth 
which was scattered all around that he could 
not recall the magic word which would re-open 
the cave and release him from his prison. 

He tried, "Open Barley !" There was no 
response. He tried, ; 'Open Wheat!" and 
many others but the bolts only seemed more 
firmly fixed than before, until at last he was 
obliged to give up in despair and await the 
coming of the forty thieves, who would soon 
put an end to the usurper. 

15 



May not we be lik«no(l toCassim, shut in the 
cave of our own, from a successful life, with 
the holts of ignoranee. superstition, <>l scurity, 
discontent and indiscrimination, firmly drawn ! 
But must we. like him. remain in this cave 
until the dark thief shall come and steal us 
away I 

Can we not find some magic word that will 
loosen these holts and let us into the liberty of 
wisdom, fame, honor and a judgment that shall 
enable us to know the position we are h 
qualified to fill '. 

First, let us try wealth. Surely no lock can 
resist so potent a key. Every means must now 
be employed to acquire this powerful remover 
of obstacles. Conscience must be smothered so 
that by fair means or otherwise, we may at last 
gain the prize. Let us now observe the bolts 
as they fly back and also the door as it opens to 
release us. But, what means this ''. The bolts 
of ignorance, superstition and indiscrimination 
are just as firmly drawn as ever, while that of 
discontent rapidly grows larger, and is fastened 
so firmly even while we gaze, that it seems no 
key can ever turn the rusted barrier. To be 
sure obscurity has slowly faded away, but a 
still stronger bolt of prejudice on account of the 
wrongs we have done others in order to secure 
this wealth, has taken its place. 

Baffled in this, we are almost in despair, for 
if wealth will not open the door of success, how 

16 



can we ever hope to tind a power that may 
accomplish this. Yet, surely it was not wealth 
that released Alexander, and helped him with a 
small army to conquer the world, or wealth 
that made Lincoln a man whom the whole 
country loved, and who calmly adjusted the 
affairs of the nation when everything threatened 
it with destruction. 

It must be genius that has opened the door 
for these men for certainly unless Nature had 
designed Alexander foi a great, military com- 
mander, he could never have been one ; neither 
could Lincoln have been such a statesman if he 
had not been especially intended for that place. 
Then let us try "genius, 1 ' but we must still be 
wrong, for although at times the bolts seem to 
be about to open to release a part of our num- 
ber ; just as we prepare to escape, they again 
close, and make the cave seem more gloomy 
than ever because of the transient gleam of 
freedom. And we at last decide that something 
must be done beside waiting for genius to give 
us the liberty we covet. 

We think again, and seem to see Lincoln, 
first as an awkward country lad, then as a 
lawyer, and as he shuts himself up with only a 
geometry for a companion, that he may make 
his mind as acute as that of his partner, we are 
forced to admit that genius was not the key 
that released him. But can we, like him, gain 
our freedom only by means of the plodding 



industry of perseverance '. Yet, something 
must be done and we apply ouraelVed to tin- 
task. We tind that to remove the bolt of 
ignorance, means days, even nights, of faith- 
ful study. Many a time we arc tempted to 
relinquish the task, but this magic wand which 
we now possess, sustains us until we are re- 
warded by seeing the bolt grow smaller and at 
last it disappears, and to our surprise we rind 
that the bolt of superstition was in some mys- 
terious way linked to that of ignorance and 
they are removed at the same time. Also while 
we w r ere toiling with ignorance, the other bolls 
have grown weaker. We next try indiscrimi- 
nation and under the magic influence of perse- 
verance this also disappears, and as before, 
another barrier, that of discontent, vanisl 
while obscurity is but a shadow that cannot 
hinder our escape. Now the great iron door 
which has held us captive so long, swings back 
on its rusted hinges, and before stepping into 
liberty for w^hich we have toiled so hard, we 
pause- to exclaim. The door which resisted the 
influence of wealth and genius has, by the 
mighty power of perseverance, been opened. 
The key to the cave has been found — Sesame is 
open ! 

conversion. 

During school days at Montrose Miss Hardy 
began to see the importance of life and was 

18 



brought under deep conviction regarding the 
future. She remembered her home training 
under the supervision of Christian parents 
whose love and care had followed her all the 
way. As important as her earthly future 
looked to her, it became dim to her vision as 
eternity dawned upon her mind and she saw the 
meaning of it, in bitter remorse or in perfect 
bliss. 

No strange commotion or unusual excitement 
characterized her convertion. While in her 
own home, all kneeled in worship around the 
family altar and after the others had prayed, 
Clara offered up her heart to God and poured 
forth the sins of the past and claimed His 
promises for the future. Then and there God 
accepted the gift and set her apart for His 
special service. As they arose from prayer, 
Clara lifted her eyes and said : "I thought I 
knew something about the love of God, but 
now I know I am saved and feel his love in my 
heart." She returned to her school with new 
hopes and completed her course with a real 
object in life. 

A graduate of so efficient an institution, and 
possessing such mental capabilities and sound 
judgment, overruled by a sweet Christian 
character, she was apparently ready for the 
curtain of life to lift that she might step out on 
the stage of action in whatever line the Master 
made plain to her. 

19 



SCHOOL TEACHING. 



Soon after her graduation at Montrose, Miffl 
Hardy accepted a school at Wiliiam8'P"nd,uear 
Montrose, where she successfully spent three 
months teaching, where she learned the i 
and sorrows of the country school mistress. 
Mention need not be made of the long, dreary 
days filled with disappointment and the unruly 
scholars who had the reputation of trying the 
patience and good nature of several, preceding 
teachers. However, the three months soon 
o-lided by and the school had been well ruled, 
having been governed by love. Her gentle man- 
ner and affectionate, Christian character won 
the heart of each scholar, and she will ever 
linger in their memory as a teacher beloved. 



20 



CHAPTER III 

IN SYRACUSE. 

Soon after her school closed, Miss Hardy 
felt strongly drawn toward Syracuse, N. Y., 
where she had before visited. Preparations 
were hastened to completion and she took leave 
for that busy city; not with the thoughtlessness 
of a school girl, but with the mind of a Chris- 
tian, entering upon life's sacred duties ; win- 
ning her way in the world and honoring the 
Christ who had saved her from sin. 

She reached Syracuse early in autumn and 
was soon employed by the Singer Sewing Ma- 
chine Co. as book-keeper, where she continued 
for several months. 

During this time she was brought into con^ 
tact with the Delaware Street Baptist Church,, 
of which Rev. R. E. Burton was pastor. 

Although after her conversion she had united 
with the East Rush M. E. Church, she did not 
feel satisfied with her experience, and much less 
the obeying of her convictions. She early 
sought opportunity to converse with the pastor 
and found, although a busy man, that he had 
time to render the assistance she needed in that 
time of decision. Her desires were briefly ex- 

21 



pressed in these words: "Brother Burton, I 
am a Baptist and if the church thinks I am a 
proper subject for baptism, I would like to be 
baptised.'* This statement was the simple ei 
pression of her heart and made a deep and last 
ino- impression on the hearts of many in the 
church. Correspondence was had with the pas- 
tor of the East Rush Church, who forwarded 
her certificate of membership and also a warm 
personal commendation. 

On the evening of October 15th, 1893, Miss 
Hardy attended a Y. P. S . C. E. meeting at the 
church and later Rev. R. E. Burton led her 
down into the baptismal pool. As she arose 
from that watery grave a new hope filled her 
soul, and her heart was unchangably set on fol- 
lowing Christ into the mission field wherever 
He might call. 

CALLED OF GOD. 

During the early part of this same winter she 
fully realized her call of God, and responded to 
it and obeying Him, went "at his bidding.' 

The writer was in New York at the time and 
will never forget a most peculiar experience. 
For some time we had not been in correspon- 
dence and neither knew where the other was. 
One night while bleeping soundly a voice seemed 
to say to me in distinct tones: "I have called 
Clara Hardy to be a missionary.' 1 1 awoke 
immediately and kneeling down in the dark 

22 



prayed for her. As soon as her address could 
be procured, I wrote her a concise, formal let- 
ter, which she immediately answered in all the 
tenderness of Christian love. In it she said : 
"I do not suppose you believe as I do; but I 
cannot be anything but a Baptist. Further- 
more, God has called me to be a missionary." 
Soon after this it was my privelge to visit 
Syracuse and observe something of the influen- 
ces of her life in that city. 

Miss Hardy knew the city not only in its 
plan and make up, but she knew the people 
both in their outward appearance and their 
inner life. She had solicited aid for the needy 
&nd administered it; kneeled at the bedside of 
the sick and interceded at the throne of grace 
for the suffering; taught the children in the 
Sunday school the simple stories of Jesus; led 
many members of the Christian Endeavor 
Society into a life of deeper Jove and more 
implicit trust, and spoke words of comfort to 
bereaved friends, pointing them to the Lamb of 
^Calvary, who bore our griefs and carried our 
sorrows. In her devotions she was a picture of 
divine love. 

During the early part of our conversation we 
were speaking of her church when she said: U I 
love my church, and oh, our pastor is just 
lovely. We will attend prayer meeting tonight 
;and then you can meet him." We attended 
prayer meeting that evening and as the pastor 

23 



came in she said: -There comes Brother Bur- 
ton: he is such a tender man and he knows 
everyone of his young people by name." Dur- 
ing the testimonies she arose, her face lighted 
up as though the very glory of God shone 
through it, and told what Christ had done for 
her, and added: -'He will do the same for you 
if you will permit Him. 1 ' 

Recently I had the privilege of entering that 
church again, and as 1 passed into that prayer 
room my eyes rested on the very spot where 
she sat at that memorable prayer meeting- 
Clara was not there. Passing from the prayer 
room to the young people's room, the first 
thing that attracted my attention was a beauti- 
ful portrait of her hanging against the wall. 
The expression of the face seemed to say. 
"follow Christ.' ' 

The evening following that memorable prayer 
meeting, 1 was obliged to leave the city at 10:- 
30 p. m. As I was preparing my grip, Miss- 
Hardy put on her coat and .said: "I will accom- 
pany you to the depot." I told her it was not 
safe for a little body like her to return from 
the station at so late an hour, but she said 
"my Heavenly Father will take care of me and 
I will be perfectly safe. 1 ' Such confidence in 
God I had never seen before and will never 
forget the trustful look on that face as the tram 
crlided away, and I saw by the city lights that 
consecrated little body trudging toward home. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CHICAGO LIFE. 



The months spent in Syracuse might well be 
termed the days of calling. She had so deeply 
felt her call to mission work, but felt her pre- 
parations incomplete and consequently sought 
a place for completed preparation. This'would 
have been easy with means at hand, but the one 
great difficulty faced the young heroine of faith 
as she looked forth upon the great harvest 
field of dying souls. Correspondence was had 
with the Woman's Baptist Home Mission Soci- 
ety of Chicago, and Miss Hardy was accented 
as a student to enter the opening term in the 
autumn of 1894. Her faith must now be put 
to the test. She had given herself and was 
ready to enter the training school and the 
school was ready for her to enter, but the con- 
necting link — the means — was missing. She 
realized what it meant and in simple faith said: 
•'Father, here is your child and there is the 
school, but where is the offering?" As she 
arose from that prayer she had no more money, 
but she had what was far better, the assurance 
and unshaken confidence that the means would 



26 



be provided, and all her future plans rested on 
the response lo that faith. 

AT HOME. 

Early in June she returned to her parental 
home at East Rush, Pa., where several days 
were spent assisting in extra meetings. Her 
testimonies were glowing ; her prayers earnest 
and touching, and her personal work effective. 
The*remainder of that summer was spent at 
home attending to household duties ; relieving 
her feeble mother in every way possible. 
Together with this she made all necessary pre- 
parations to enter her school in autumu. Her 
presence was indeed au inspiration to the family 
and a blessing to the entire community. About 
the first of September she started for Syracuse 
where fellowship was renewed and hearts were 
bound closer together in the bonds of Christian 
iellowship and love. 



2< 



SPEEDING AWAY. 

September 3rd, 1894, Miss Hardy bad fare- 
well to her beloved church of Syracuse and 
started for her school at 2411 Indiana Avenue, 
Chicago. She reached Chicago on the evening 
of the fourth, and seemed to understand what 
it meant to be in the heart of that great, wicked 
city. 

Extracts from her letters will be the best 
record of her Chicago life, and will show bow 
deeply she entered into her school life, together 
with her mission work during the school year. 
Her first letter was written on the evening of 
September fourth, a few minutes after she 
reached the school. This, like all the others, 
from which extracts are taken, was written to 
the family and shows her bright, cheerful way 
of expression. 

Chicago, Sept. 4, 1894. 
Dear parents and all : — 

Well, here I am safe and well in the great, 
wicked city of Chicago. 1 started from Syra- 
cuse yesterday morning and arrived here this 
evening. I have not had time yet to know 
how things are, but am sure I shall like it very 
much. 

I found the people all well at Syracuse, and 
of course saw nearly all the people in my 
church. The welcome and God-speed that I 
received there assured me that my Syracuse 

29 



friends have not forgotten me. Mrs. Smith 
gave me a I \< l\ pair of ki<i gloves; Anna 
Nese, -i young lady who lives with ber, two 
handkerchiefs one silk, and Mrs. Tiffany, a 
book entitled *• Daily Bread," and fifty cents 
to pay for iimeh on the train. 

I received no letter from Miss Burdette tell- 
ing me how to get to tin- depot, but I found a 
young lady who was going to Indiana Avenue, 
who showed me the way, so J had no trouble 
in any way. 

I have not seen Miss Burdette yet, but Mrs. 
Morris, the pereeptress, is lovely. She is one 
of those sweet >ou :- that everybody loves, and 
she is a mother to everyone. Mrs. Whaley. the 
matron, is more for business and keeping 
everything moving, but I am sure I shall like 
her very much. I was the first student here, 
but another one — a Swedish girl — has come 
now. The building is beautiful and in the 
nicest and healthiest part of the city. 

It will be noticed in this letter of September 
10th, Miss Hardy makes mention of her class 
of boys at the mission, which may be followed 
through her Chicago letters with great interest. 

September 10th: — As 1 have a few minutes 
before teachers' meeting I will tell you as best I 
can what I am doing and how 1 am getting 
along. I have found everything here very 
pleasant ; a great deal nicer than I had expec- 
ted. It is indeed a true home here. You 



30 



would believe it if you could hear some of the 
former students tell how much they love it and 
how glad they are to get back. I have seen but 
a small portion of the city. The lake is just a 
few blocks from here and I have seen that 
twice. I have been to my field, which is "Faith 
Mission," three times. Thursday afternoon we 
went out by twos all over the city making 
house to house calls. We have four missions 
and I called about "Faith" last Thursday, but 
may be changed Saturday. We have industrial 
schools at all of the missions and I have a class 
of thirteen girls, from ten to fourteen years of 
age that I must teach to sew, knit etc. 

At the Sunday School yesterday they gave 
me a class of two boys, but it is the biggest 
class I ever attempted to teach. They are 
about fourteen years of age and one of them is 
the worst boy I ever saw. He is Irish and as 
smart as he can be, but it all runs to mischief. 
The other one was not quite so bad, but he 
seems never to have known anything good. I 
got along with them real well yesterday, and 
they really seemed interested, and you know 
that means a great deal. 

I have one of the pleasantest rooms in the 
building. It faces Indiana Avenue and was 
furnished elegantly by the La Salle Avenue 
Baptist Church. My room-mate is a Swede 
and speaks English fairly well, but cannot 
write it. 



31 



September 24th: — Another week has passed 

away and 1 will try and tell you in a few word* 
how 1 tind Chicago by this time. 

We have so many kinds of work here and 
-crowd every day so full that a week seems like 
a month. This week I am more than busy. 
Wednesday morning I have to lead the prayer 
service, and I am not at all prepared on any 
lesson yet. Next Wednesday afternoon I 
have to lead the children's meeting at kl Faith 
Mission " and I haven't even looked at the les- 
son for that. But worst of all, at our next 
missionary meeting one week from Saturday, 
I have to give an address on " Present Difficul- 
ties in Japan." 

Sunday is such a hard day. We go to Sun- 
day School at 9:30 and attend preaching at 11- 
12:30. If wc L r <> any distance to church we 
have to hurry just as? fast as we can to get 
home to dinner at 1:00 p. m. At 2:00 1 start 
and walk three miles to the mission, and by the 
time I have taught, or attempted to teach, two 
of the worst boys in existence, have attended 
the teachers* prayer-meeting and hurried home. 
It is six o'clock — tea time. That is the pro- 
gram every Sunday unless we have something 
extra as 1 do next Sunday. Still I enjoy it 
very much and look forth to Sunday as one of 
the pleasantest days of the week, together with 
the days that we teach the Industrial Classes 
and do field work. 



S2 



A COLORED FAKE. 

I mast tell yoa what I saw yesterday. When 
I came oat of the church in the morning some- 
thing stood across the street that I thought was 
a statue. It had on a long black robe that 
reached to the walk, which was held down at 
the waist by a silver belt. This had some in- 
scription on it but I was not near enough to tell 
what it was. A close black turban completed 
the outfit which was rich and elegant in every 
way. 

At last it moved and began talking to the 
people and I found it was a colored man. He 
pretends to be the Christ and parades around 
here all the time teaching his doctrine. They 
tell me he has quite a few followers ; but of 
course he is insane. 

FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS. 

October 1st : — Last night I made my first 
address before the public. I was to talk half 
an hour to children, but found about thirty 
children, and the room filled up with grown 
people. The Lord helped me through, and 1 
didn't get at all confused or embarassed, and 
they said I gave them all a good lesson; I can't 
vouch for that. 

I enjoy the field work better every time I go 
out, but it makes my heart ache sometimes I 



33 



tell you. I was out calling last Wednesday and 
one woman we were talking with asked as if 
we ever confessed. We told her yes, to our 
k Great High Priest Jesus Chru bhe 

slammed the door in our faces and she and her 
husband shouted "Blasphemers until we 
could hear it after we were on the street We 
sow the seed and leave the harvest to the Lord. 

MY CLASS OF BOY-. 

October 8th :— My two boys in Sunday 
School are a terrible ta^k on my hands. Some- 
times I am very much encouraged with them 
and think thev are really going to do bett 
then the nextVeek they will be ten times worse 
than ever. Yesterday I had three and they 
behaved very nicely, but a week ago I couldn t 
do anything" with them. They got mad because 
the superintendent moved them, and they made 
things very interesting for us all. Still I know 
I have gained their confidence to some extent. 
They respect me and mind when I speak-to 
them, even if they don't stay minded: and that 
is more than they would ever do for then- 
teacher before. 

THE SEWING CLASS. 

I have thirty-one girls in the sewing school 
and they are just a delight to me. They all 

34 



try to see which can do the most to make it 
pleasent for me and I am in hopes I shall be 
able to do some better work for the Master 
with them. 



October 23rd : — I know not whether this 
week's report will be as good as last or not. I 
have had to put the work on my Industrial les- 
son. I gave it Saturday and lived through it — 
and as far as I know the rest did too. The 
children were very much interested in the les- 
son, and it means a great deal to interest one 
hundred and fifty children in a mission so they 
will sit quiet for half an hour. . 

I first told them about bees, describing how 
they work and what they do. Then I told them 
the "Be's'' I wanted to tell them about had 
different names from these. I had ten different 
"Be's 1 ' — be kind, be sober, be clean, be hon- 
est, be courteous, be cheerful, be patient, be 
faithful, be sweet, be quiet. As I told their 
names I told them what the different " Be's " 
would do. My application was, that all the 
boys and girls there, might have these ten 
"Be's" for their own if they would just ask 
Jesus for them. But they must remember that 
if they had these " Be's " and come to Sewing 
School with dirty hands or face, little "be 
clean 7 ' would know they didn't want him and 
he would look just as sorry and would fly away. 



35 



One thing that interested the children was that 
I had the picture on the board, but did not 
have the " Be's " named, and then J would 
name them as fast as I told the children about 
them. 

A CONVERTED RUSSIAN. 

October 29th: — There was a man here last 
Week whose talk I think I enjoyed as much as 
anything I have ever heard. The man wae 
Russian named Faoderoff. He was highlv edu- 
cated in the Navy Schools of Russia and spoke 
fourteen different languages. His training had 
made him just as hard hearted and cruel as he 
could possibly be. He said he had waded in 
German blood to his knees and thought no 
more of it than he would of so much water. 
He was a strong intidel and left home because 
his mother, who was a Quaker, would urge him 
to lead a better life. He was in St. Petersburg 
living just as fast a life as a young officer could 
on a large salary. One day an old lady came 
to him and asked him to buy a book entitled 
" The Road to the New Jerusalem." He 
thought it was a novel and bought it, but when 
he saw it was a Testament he threw it under 
the bed. Soon after he received a letter from 
home telling him that another intidel brother, 
while out riding with one that wwa a 
Christian, began scoffing at religion as his 
brother urged him to change his life, and asked 

36 



him where he would go if he should die. He 
laughed and said: u Oh ! I would go and get a 
fire all ready for you when you come." He 
then lay down in the bottom of the sleigh and 
in less than five minutes, was dead. This set 
Mr. Faoderoff to thinking and he became so 
deeply convicted that he hunted up the Bible 
he had thrown away and was finally converted. 
He then began preaching on the streets and was 
arrested by the priests a number of times, who 
finally succeeded in getting him sent to Siberia. 
He preached to the soldiers there and was one 
day preaching Psalm xci:ll-12 when two of 
the soldiers asked him if he believed God would 
take care of him in that way. When he said 
yes, they told him they would try him and see. 
That night they took him up in the third story 
and pitched him ouf of the window. He fell in 
such a way that it did not hurt him, but just 
took the heel of his boot. He ran as fast as he 
could to the train and went to Findland, then to- 
Sweden and then to America. He supposed the- 
soldiers went down to look for him and are 
looking for him yet. 

He married a woman in Chicago and they 
together went back to Russia, but he was soon 
arrested and taken to prison with ten extra sol* 
diers to guard him. He concluded the best 
thing for him was to get out, and after convert- 
ing one of the soldiers, got him to bring him a 
uniform. Then with a big nail he tore out the 

37 



partition aud got into one of the empty cells 
which was not locked. He then walked out 
into the hall and slapped some of the soldiers, 
who were off duty, on the backs to wake them 
up. They all told him to get out : so he did. 
He went up to the fourth story where he found 
a window that was not barred, then slid down 
a tin water-spout and so got away. He hid m a 
ship until it started and then made his way to 
England and finally to Chicago. 

During this time his wife was taken care of 
by friends and is now awaiting his arrival at 
San Francisco. 

THE CONVERTED DRUNKARD. 

November 12th:— Another week has rolled 
by, and 1 will make another attempt to write. I 
have become interested in Central Mission which 
is in the heart of the city where it isn't safe to 
go a step alone after dark; but there is a. won- 
derful work being done there and I can^t stay 
away. I was there a week ago last Wednes- 
dav night. Just after the meeting opened a 
youncr^man came in and sat down just behind 
me. & He was a fine looking fellow except that 
his face was bloated with drink; but in his 
figure and general bearing you could see that 
God had intended him for a noble man. He 
was nicely dressed, but sat through the first 
part of tbe meeting with his head down in his 

38 



hands — he couldn't hold it up: and every few 
minutes he would beg someone to kill him or do 
something to get him out of his own way. I 
never saw such an utterly wretched being in mv 
life. 

After a time we tried to sing "Have Cour- 
age My Boy to Say No," but none of us knew 
it very well and had almost broken down when 
all at once it started up as if a whole choir had 
suddenly been added. I turned around to see 
where the music came from and found that this 
young man had raised his head and was singing. 
Such a wonderful voice I had never heard, and 
the way he would say, ' ' Have Courage 
My Boy to Say No," would just break your 
heart. He sang it through and then his head 
went down again as before. After the meeting 
quite a number of us went and talked with him 
and found he had just pawned a ring for drink 
and he told us the other one would go before 
morning. I think God never put such a bur- 
den upon my heart for anyone as He did for 
that young man; and others in the mission felt 
the same way. 

Last Wednesday night I went again and the 
first thing that met my eyes was that young 
man, sitting up front with a happy peaceful look 
on his face. That night he gave in the clearest 
ringing testimony I have ever heard. After the 
meeting he told me he had fouud Christ on 
Saturday morning, and he was so happy he 

39 



could hardly talk. I only wish you could have 
seen the two pictures just one week apart. The 
reeling, staggering drunkard, his face the em- 
bodiment of misery and despair; and the happy 
Christian rejoicing in the love of Christ. It 
showed me clearer than ever before what a 
wonder Saviour we have. 

THAT CLASS OF BOYS. 

December 24th: — I am so much encouraged 
with my boys; one of them — the oldest — is 
converted and he is a different boy. He paid 
the strictest attention in the class Sunday and 
even asked questions about the lesson. I could 
hardly realize that it was Henry. 

I AM MARRIED. 

We met a young Irish woman on our tield 
last Thursday who had just been married, and 
thought as a great many others seem to think, 
that that was the end and aim of life. We asked 
her to read some of our papers, but she said, 
"no, I am married now and there is no use of 
my reading any more." We invited her to the 
mission, but she said, "lam married and there 
is no use. I used to go to church and then my 
fellow would walk home with me, but I have 
him right at home now and there is no use for 
me to go any more." Try in every way we 
could and just as hard as we could, we could 
not get her mind from that one point, "at least 
I am married." 

40 



CHAPTER V. 

THE NEW YEAK 1895. 
SWEETLY SAVED. 

February 18th: — Miss Burdette and I went 
out calling on the field last Thursday and called 
at one home where we had never been before. 
We found a very sweet little woman who asked 
us what we were doing in the city. When she 
learned that we were from the Training School 
she said, "just see what good women you are, 
working for the Lord, and here I never go to 
church." She went to the mission with us, 
and after the services came and said, "if I go 
home and read and study my Bible will I be 
good and happy like you are ? " After quite a 
long conversation with her she went with us 
into a little side room, and before we had time 
to close the door she clasped her hands, and 
such a prayer as went up to the throne, such 
penitence, such earnestness. After we had prayed 
she arose from her knees and said: " and you 
are sure God will accept me after I have 
wandered so far away % O, I am so happy, I 
am so glad God sent you to me this afternoon. 

41 



It is so blessed to know that Jesus has forgiven 
me and to know I belong to Him." 

AWFUL SUFFERING. 

March 10th:— I called alone, last Thursday , 

and found in one place a woman with three 
children and her husband in the insane asylum. 
She lives in the most wretched little hovel you 
ever saw as a dwelling for humau beings. It 
is just ready to fall down, and the cracks are 
larger (?) than the boards. She has a miserable 
old°stove that will not burn when she, has any- 
thing to burn in it; two chairs without backs 
and more hole than seat; a pile of filthy rags 
that answered to the name of "bed", and not 
rags enough to cover their nakedness. 

1 know not how many times she repeated, 
"God help me if we ever see another such a 
winter." Her spiritual condition was even 
worse; she was a Catholic and said she had been 
absent from mass because she had no money, 
and that was the unpardonable sin: so she nev- 
er could be saved. Nothing I could say seem- 
ed to change her, but I left her a Testament 
praying that she might be led to Christ. 

MORE BOYS IN CLASS. 

March 18th:— I began the year with two of 
about the worst specimens of humanity you 

42 



a 



could imagine and now I have thirteen. Three 
weeks ago a very fine young man was added to 
my class. He is almost nineteen and a perfect 
gentleman. Last Sunday I noticed he was 
touched but didn't say anything to him. But 
yesterday when we were talking about the les- 
son, Charley couldn't keep back the tears, so 
after Sunday school I went to him and said, 
"Charles, Jesus wants you too." He said, 
"Yes, Miss Hardy, I know it and I want Him. 
' I have been trying to tind him all the week, 
but I can't. I know I must have faith, but 
how can I get it ?" I talked with him about 
not trying but trusting Jesus and what He had 
done, and being willing to follow as Jesus led. 
Then I told him how strangely I had felt about 
him. Something told me the moment I saw 
him that God had some special work for him 
to do He said, "Yes, Miss Hardy, I know it, 
and that is just the trouble. I know that if I 
am converted I shall have to be a minister, and 
I cannot give up and be willing. I believe that 
is just what is keeping me back. Jesus cannot 
save me until I let Him have my will." He 
said he would surrender his will although, and 
try to be willing to follow, today, and leave the 
future with God. I believe before this he is 
converted. 

JUST A LITTLE FUN. 

April 1st: — Just for the fun of it I will 
43 



write you an " April Fool" letter today. I 
suppose you are having lots of fun fooling each 
other. We are having a little. One of the 
students — Miss Coffay — is a very aristocratic 
young lady who does everything by rule, and 
we were determined she should have an April 
Fool. Miss Smith, our clown, went in the re- 
ception parlor behind the door, and I took a 
card up to Miss Coffay and told her there was 
a lady down stairs to see her. She made very 
elaborate preparations and stalked majestically 
down stairs, only to find Miss Smith nearly 
killing herself at Miss Coft'ay's airs. She was 
completely dumbfounded and I suppose will 
pay us back before night. 

THAT OLD BACHELOR. 

That old bachelor came over to our prayer 
meeting last Saturdy night again. Some of the 
students have neglected their physical culture 
so it has been made a class-room exercise, and 
every night we have to go down and practice 
together. We have a list of motions that take 
us about twenty minutes. Mr. Chapel decided 
that he would stay to this also. We twisted our 
bodies into every imaginable shape and it 
amused him very much. He was compliment- 
ing me on one of my stretching motions, so we 
got him to try it. The floors are all waxed 
and are as smooth as glass. After he had 

44 



stretched properly and then tried to come down 
and touch his hands to the floor, his feet flew 
out, and he not only touched his hands but his 
nose also. He picked himself up very grace- 
fully and appeared to enjoy the joke. 

EASTER. 

April 14th: — This beautiful Easter morning 
I am going to write you a letter. It is indeed 
a beautiful morning and I never realized until 
now what Easter really meant to us. The 
thought has come to me so many times this 
morning: " What if death had the victory and 
Jesus were now lying in the tomb ? " We can- 
not imagine what it would mean. As I think 
of the friends who loved Him so dearly when 
He was upon earth, and how they had seen 
Him nailed to the cross and then laid in the 
tomb. They thought all was over; all their 
hopes in vain; but had we been there with 
what we know now, on that Resurrection 
Morning, I think we could have sang from our 
hearts: 

" O, sing the blessed story, 

The Lord of life and glory 

Is risen as He said, 

Is risen from the dead." 

HOME IN JUNE. 

As the school year drew towards its close, 
Miss Hardy looked f orwai d with expectation to 

45 



ber vacation at home, bat then i though! 
Badness would unconsciously creep over her - 
would think of the class of boys who had 
bee 'ear to her, and whoo had 

given her an influei ; and the 

girls in the Industrial S 

had WMven her very life. She could derive 
comfort from one thought only; that she 

leaving them in the care and love of the infinite 
Father who would watch over their young i 
with a tenderness and affection beyond human 
power and ability. 

She arrives home late in June and tinds home 
that dear and sacred spot that it has alv. 
been to her. but made dearer to her by the ex- 
periences she had in so many sad homes in 
Chicago. 

Like all other anticipated joys the vacation 
was over before she had time 10 realize 
blessings, and she must again turn her eyes 
toward the srreat western city where, to her, 
sorrow was mingled with joy. Her school-life 
was sweet indeed, and her whole heart went 
out to the lost souls of that city, but the suffer- 
ing she was unable to relieve grieved her deeply 
and caused many a pang of sorrow. 



46 



CHAPTER VL 



NEW CXA88ES. 

Miss Hardy again at 

her much beloved school with a new set of 
plans and new classes — a complete change. She 
enters the school with new aspirations and 
find* : part of the :ical 

3.11 the char. 
from the Lord, counting them all for her own 
good, and enters in with her whole heart as seen 
by her own lette 

AD CHA> 

Septem ; — Well. I have had to give 

up my class of boys at Faith Mission, and hare 
taken a - at Bohemia Mission. It 

has been a pretty hard struggle, but it must be 
all right someway. I didn't want srirls and it 
doesn't seem as if I could ever g vsted in 

them, but I tnink that rfust be just the tiainiDg 
I need. The boys feel just si do about 

>ot they come here occasionally and perhaps 
I can help them just as much as though I were 
teaching them. 

47 



IN CHINA TOWN. 

I went to the Chinese Mission and there 
attempted to teach a real heathen Chinese. He 
had been here only a short time and could not 
understand English I had a hook with Chinese 
characters on one page, and English on the 
other. I would point to the Chinese word to 
show him what it meant, then teach him to 
write it. Poor Nou Tung — he was so anxious 
to learn, and would work away with the per- 
spiration rolling down .his face. Finally he 
made me understand that he wantrd to learn a 
Bible verse, so I taught him: "Behold the 
Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the 
world." When the lesson was over he got up 
and repeated it to the school as proudly as 
could be. Of course the words had no mean- 
ing to him, but I only pray they will have some 
day, and be the means of pointing him to the 
One who alone can take away sin. 

DISTURBANCES. 

October 14th: — We had a dreadful time at 
the Sewing School Saturday. A crowd of 
Catholic boys came in and made such a distur- 
bance we had to put them out. Then about 
twenty of them gathered across the street and 
threw in rubbish, and did all sorts of meanness 
they could think of. We stayed out there, two 

4^ 



or three of us at a time, and tried to keep them 
from doing damage, but they smashed in one 
panel of the door. We sent twice to the police 
station, but couldn't get a policeman until the 
school was nearly out and we had sent the boys 
all away. 

The chief of police has promised us perfect 
protection, and next Saturday I reckon those 
big Catholic u cops" over there will have to do 
their duty. 

The following April the students prepared a 
birthday surprise for Miss Burdette, at which 
time Miss Hardy composed and read the follow- 
ing poem : — 

THE INFLUENCE OF A LIFE. 
To my mind there comes a story, 

Half forgotten through the years, 
Of the wondrous gem of blessing 

In the land of widows' tears. 

All who touched received a blessing 

From this gem of untold cost; 
Some of wealth, and some of pleasure, 

But the precious stone was lost. 

Long they searched but could not find it ; 

Many years in vain were passed; 
Lives spent searching for a blessing, 

Finding only death at last. 

'Tis a legend, half forgotten, 

Of the time so long ago, 
And the picture that it brings us 

Tells of only want and woe. 

49 



I would bring a brighter picture 

To your happy hearts tonight, 
Of another gem of blessing 

Found in this, our land of light- 
Far more precious is our treasure 

Than the fabled gem of old : 
Far above the price of jewel-. 

Precious gems, or finest gold. 

Not of wealth and worldly pleasure 
Does this precious jewel speak, 

But the joys of life eternal 
And the wealth of Heaven so sweet: 

Sons of God and heirs of glory. 

One with Him for aye to be ; 
This the message that it brings us — 

This the glory we may see. 

Only those who touched the other 
Blessing had, of wealth or fame, 

But the ones who touched our own gem 
All go out to bless again. 

From our country's farthest corners. 

And from lands across the 'sea: 
They have come to touch our treasure 

That they may a blessing be. 

Then they've gone to share their blessing 
With the ones who have it not ; 

Some to lift up their own people, 
Some the neglected and forgot. 



50 



In the sunny South, so near us, 

Millions are — a few years free, 
But the chains of sin that bind them, 

Worse than iron fetters be. 

Some touched lives have gone among them. 
Bringing words of hope and cheer, 

And the chains that long have bound them 
Through their influence disappear. 

Farther South in still worse bondage, 

Mexico to Rome is bound ; 
But some touched lives bear the message 

And her freedom soon will sound. 

From the West a piteous message 
Told of wrong done in the past, 

But some lives who've touched our jewel 
Went, and light is breaking fast. 

North and East, through all our country 
These touched lives can now be found. 

Songs begin to fill the valleys, 
And hills echo back the sound. . . 

Not alone to our own country 

Does this mighty influence go, 
It has reached earth's farthest corners, . 

Blessed alike the high and low. 

India, who once in darkness 

Sought the fabled gem to find; 
Africa, Assam and China, 

Into these the light has shined. 



51 



E'eD the islands of the ocean 

Feel the influence of this gem : 
Touched lives tell of life eternal. 
And the joys in store for them. 

I )nly He. who from the Heavens 
Sees, and hears, and knows all thii 

Knows the influence of our treasure, 
Or the blessing that it brim:-- 

(July He can tell the stor.x . 

Which my words have failed to speak. 
Of the lives made bright and happy — 

Sheaves laid at the Master'- feet. 

Only in the bright hereafter. 

Will the story all be told. 
When we hear the Master's welcome 

In those streets of purest gold. 

Then in His own crown, all glorious, 

Will our precious jewel 9hine, 
Bright in all its wondrous beauty. 

Through the years of endless time. 

With birthday greetings from one of the " touched 
lives. Clara B. Hardy. 

April 14, 1896. 

WHY I AM INTERESTED IN ME\ 

An address by Mis- Hardy at the June meet- 
ing of the Chicago Home Mission Union, held 

b 

in Memorial Baptist Church: — 



When the news came to us of the terrible 
destruction that had been wrought by the 
cyclone in St. Louis, and of the hundreds that 
had been hurled to their death in a moment ; 
one of the pitiful things about it all was that 
the electric light communications had been 
broken and the city left in almost total dark- 
ness. What more terrible picture could be 
imagined than a city whose buildings had been 
picked up by a great hand and then hurled to- 
gether in a great mass of debris, while hund- 
reds of men, women and children are buried in 
their ruins, and above it all a great, black 
darkness. We can see men whose loved ones 
have been hurled from their side, rush here and 
there, half crazed with the thought that per- 
haps those same loved ones are suffering ; men 
dying for the help they might give, but they 
grope helplessly in the darkness and cannot find 
a way to save themselves, much less those who- 
have been parted from them. 

Sad as is this picture, I must bring before 
you a still more terrible one ; not of a portion, 
of two cities left in darkness for some hours bjr 
a storm, where a few hundred people are left 
dead and dying, and their families trying vainly 
in the dark to save them, but of a whole 
country where Romanism has cut off all com- 
munication with the light of Heaven, where not 
hundreds but millions of people are groping in 
densest darkness unable to save either them- 



53 



selves or their friends from eternal death ; a 
land where the name of Jesus, the only name 
given under Heaven whereby men can be saved, 
has no sweetness, but is only connected with 
the thought of anger that must be appeased; of 
terrible wrath that will hurl them all into the 
bottomless pit unless turned aside by --Our 
Lady." A land where all their lives, the mas- 
ses of the people must work and starve while 
their hard earned wages L r, » to the priest- where 
they must do the most horrible penance, and 
then their only hope of salvation be. that after 
suffering thousands, perhaps millions of y< 
in pergatorial tires, Mary may give them a par- 
don if they have been good Catholics. 

This is the picture of Mexico today, not ex- 
aggerated, for mortal tongue can never tell the 
half. Instead of Jesus, the son of God. they 
worship Mary. "Queen of Heaven" and 
4 < Mother of God," who to them stands between 
them and the wrath of God. and to her they 
pray, that in some way she will wrest their 
pardon from God ; but for Jesus Christ, the 
Saviour of the world, they have no place as 
their prayers plainly show. For example: 
4 'Holy Virgin, Mother of God. thou art our 
only hope of salvation : thou art worthy of all 
honor with the Father and the Holy Spirit ; 
thou great medium between God and man." 

They also worship saints, many in number, 
who protect them from harm and to whom they 

54 



go for temporal blessings. Every day in the 
year has its patron saint, then November 11th 
they have "All Saints Day," when they are all 
worshipped together. Their houses are filled 
with images of their saints which the better 
class will tell us they use only as a help to wor- 
ship the real saint. Among the masses as we 
see the lights constantly burning before them 
and see them trample the < ' Black Saint ' ' under 
foot, or bury it in the ashes, for he can be pro- 
pitiated only by disrespect. We know they 
are worshipped just as truly as any pagan wor- 
ships his god of wood or stone. Christ, the 
light of the world is taken away ; the Bible, 
the only medium through which that light can 
come to us, is also denied them.- We know 
that if we hold a pure white glass between us 
and the sun, its rays will come to us bright and 
clear. If our glass is red the rays will be red, 
but if black they will be entirely obstructed 
and we be left io darkness. They are taught 
that God reveals Himself to the priests only, 
and through them they must receive the truth. 
And what are the priests ? Good pure men 
who are trying to help the people, but are 
themselves deluded and mistaken ? No ! But 
styling themselves " Christs on earth." They 
are so corrupt that they are compelled to have 
two lives ; one their private life in which they 
can commit sin as they please, the other their 
priestly life in which they are perfectly holy. 

55 



Men whose greed for gold is so great that they 
have invented all of these horrible superstitions 
and practices that this greed may be satisfied. 
11 Men," Dr. Powell has said, " who will filch 
the last penny from a diseased and dying beg- 
gar ; plunder the widow and orphan of their 
substance as well as their virtue, and cast such 
a horoscope of hoirers around the deathbed of 
the millionaire, that the poor superstitious 
wretch is glad to purchase a chance for the 
safety of his soul in making the church heir of 
his treasures, while his family is turned on the 
street homeless and penniless." 

If a mother has not §1.50 with which to have 
her babe sprinkled before it dies, it goes to a 
place called Limbo, a deep, dark pit, where it 
is pictured to suffer so horribly, away from its 
mother in the cold and darkness. 

In Mexico a man cannot be married until he 
has $15.00 to pay the priest. The poorer class, 
and a large majority belong to this class, must 
work years to save their money, or more often 
sell themselves for years in order to obtain it. 

Time will not permit me to tell of any more 
of the gross deception forced on these people 
in the name of religion, but is it not enough to 
make each of us ask : " What am I doing to 
lift the great cloud that has settled over thia 
country? " 



56 



They are trying, trying, trying, 
But no Saviour know to trust, 

Looking only to the virgin, 
Not to God so wise and just. 

They are starving, starving, starving, 
I can hear their piteous moan, 

Asking for the bread of Heaven 
And receiving but a stone. 

They are weeping, weeping, weeping, 
O'er the sufferings they must bear, 

Here, and in the world hereafter 
Before glory they can share. 

They are dying, dying, dying, 
See their faces cold and white, 

Telling of a life of darkness, 
Ending in eternal night. 

Jesus' voice is calling, calling, 
Hush ! it comes to us today, 

Go ! the fields are white to harvest, 
Are we ready to obey ? 

Are we taking them the gospel 

Of salvation full and free ; 
Are we giving, praying, working, 

That Mexico for Christ may be V 



THE LAST COMMENCEMENT. 

A poem given at the commencement of the- 
class of '96. entitled: — 

THE HIDDEN PATH. 

We are standing at the gateway, 

In the path of life tonight ; 
Here the future, untried, hopeful ; 

There the past with blessings bought. 

S7 



All along the way we've trodden, 
Lights are scattered far and near, 

And they shine out o'er the future 
Giving us a vision clear ; 

Pointing out to us the dangers 

As our journey we pursue, 
Showing us'the path of safety 

To the better land in view. 

Twixt us and the land of promise 
Snares are laid and pitfulls found, 

Doubts and fears retaid our prog 
Trials compass us around. 

In the distance there are mountains, 

Hills of difficulty they. 
Dark and steep they rise before us, 

Over them we see no way. 

Past them all there is a river, 

Wide and deep and cold the stream, 

And beyond the pearly gateways 
Of the heavenly mansion gleams. 

There's a promise in our guide-book 
That these mansions we may own, 

But we'll never, never reach them 
If we try to cross alone. 

For among the many pathways, 
Which is right, how can we know ? 

Which will lead us o'er the mountains 
Through the deep dark river's flow ? 

A safe way has been provided 
Which no human eye can see, 

For our blessed Lord and Leader 
Laid it out for you and me. 

Many hours of weary labor, 
Prayers and tears and cruel pain, 

It has cost our glorious Leader 
That this land we all might gain. 



58 



Straight and smooth He's made the pathway, 

And so plain that all may find, 
Step by step it opens to us 

If our Leader's voice in mind. 

If we follow "At His Bidding " 

We can never make mistake, 
Joyfully and safely onward 

In His path our ways will take. 

Straight it goes o'er hill and valley, 
Mountain steep, and pitful dread, 

And the vision but a shadow 
That we saw so far ahead. 

"At His Bidding," this the secret 

If we'd find the hidden way 
Which will lead us through the shadow 

To the land of endless day. 



59 



CHAPTER VII, 



THE CURTAIN LIFTS 



A true commencement tnis wbs to Miss Har- 
dy. Although very near the close of her life 
it was really the opening of a new sphere in a 
beautiful life of sacrifice. In speaking of the 
future she said, "the curtain seems very tightly 
drawn but it seems to be opening toword Mex- 
ico. " Truly the curtain lifted and she stepped 
out upon the stage of action for her blessed 
Lord, but in a few brief months the curtain 
was closed by the Master's hand divine; but we 
have hope that soon the same hand will unfold 
the pearly gates and we will look upon the 
glorified face of " our beloved Clara." 

Miss Hardy seldom mentioned her trials but 
rather gave the world a smile, although her 
heart were burdened even beyond expression ; 
but in the following: letter and poem may be 
seen a glimpse of the real true, deep sentiments 
of her heart, and in them no one could fail to 
see the reality and s^credness of her consecra- 
tion. The letter was written as she was con- 
sidering her future work to which the Lord 
called her in Mexico, and from which He called 
her home to be with Him forever. 

60 



" Of course it means a great deal to leave all 
of my loved ones, and all of the dear friends I 
have ever known. But when I gave my life to 
the Lord it was not a half hearted offering, but 
to go where and do what He would have me. 
Then it will only be a few days and we will 
all meet where there will be no parting, and 
how much sweeter the meeting will be because 
of the separation here. When I realize this, 
and that in only a few days at the most I shall 
be forever with the Lord, I wonder how the 
petty trials and afflictions here can trouble me 
as they do sometimes. But Oh ! how good 
our Father has been to me the past year. He 
has let such sweet experience come into my life. 
Even in trials and disappointments His blessed 
love and purpose has shone out so clearly, that 
they really were not trials after all. At the 
beginning of this school year I prayed that no 
matter what it might cost me, the old self 
might be purged out, and I made more and 
more like Christ. I don't think I realized 
what I prayed for, but He answered my prayer. 
Such hard things have come, experiences 
that seemed to tear soul and body asunder. 
But for everything that has been taken away, 
God has filled the place so full of Himself, and 
I thank Him so much for even the hardest 
things. A short time and then the curtain of 
the future is finally drawn. Pray that I may 
be led entirely by the blessed Spirit, and then 
wherever I go it will be all right. 
61 



THE POWER OF THE ( ROSS 

I was living to myself was dead. 

Self with its hopes was all I had; 
But soon the Lord fulfilled my pray -r to Ir now 

The power of His cross— 'twae death below. 

I asked contrition and He sent me pain : 

For purity, but anguish came again. 
I asked 1 mitrht be weak— He broke my heart: 

I asked— I know not what— the better part. 
I asked to Know what death was to the world. 

And quickly all my living hopes were' spoiled, 
I asked to belike Him— his image bear- 
He placed me in a furnace, sitting there 
Like one refining silver, till he see 

The reflect of His image bright in me. 
I asked that I the daily cross might bear: 

It lacerated me — the wounds 1 wear. 
I bli dly prayed, not knowing how nor what; 

He took me* at my word — it mattered not. 
Then I began to shrink from following near. 

And well might prayed him to depart through fear. 
To suffer was not pleasing to the flesh: 

I feared to pray lest suffering come afresh: 
But I had gone too far— on I must go— 

The virtues of His cross had pierced me through. 
In me His promises now fulfilled must be 

"1 lifted up will draw all men to me." 
Ah ! I had only heard of love— but now 

I feel it; oh ! I feel it's loving glow. 
He fastened on me such a look of love: 

Withering to self tender all words above; 
Follow I must whatever way betide: 

1 love the cross. I shelter in its side 
That riven side from which the glory beamed 

Whence life and healing flow in living streams. 
Only by gazing I become like Him: 

His name shines out through me. He dwells within. 
My calling is to live with Him alone. 

Unlike all others, lacking what they own: 
Content to be by all the world despised, 

Knowing that I by Him am loved and prized. 

62 



Content to be like Him and call Hiin mine. 

In fellowship, ineffable, di dne. 
Happy to lose the brighter portion here 

That I might gain the weight of glory there. 
Happy, that when I well might turned away 

His hand was on me — would not let me stray 
Happy to know thai He does all in love, 

To bear the cross below, the crown above: 
Happy that not my will but His be done: 

Happy in prospect of the rest at home 



UNDER APPOINTMENT. 

Miss Hardy returned home July ±th, where 
she spent a few weeks in rest and preparation 
for the work to which she had been appointed 
by the Society. Although for that purpose, 
her rest was short. When it was learned that 
she was home, she was immediately called upon 
to address cengregations in that vicinity. A 
willing worker could not sav no, and forth she 
went. Her first address was given a (- t ne East 
Rush, M. E. Church, July 26th, at which time 
she related some of her experiences while in 
Chicago. At the close of the service two silver 
dellars were pressed in her hand in a hand- 
shake, by a Christian worker who said: "Miss 
Hardy, this is for you." 

In the afternoon of the same day she gave an 
address at Retta, Pa. at which time $50. 00 was 
raised for mission work. She closed the day 
by giving an interesting address at Rush Cent- 
er M. E. Church when she showed the need of 



63 



consecrated workers, and loyal supporters of 

the Womans work. On Aug. 2nd she spoke at 
Rash Baptist Church. i'his was followed on 

Aug. 9th. at Fairdalc where she spoke of 
her plans for the fat u re and gave them some- 
thing of what she knew of Mexico. 

Aug. 16th. She gave an address of great in- 
terest at Auburn Bapist Church where a large 
congregation greeted her and listened with 
much interest to her living words. At the 
close of the service an old soldier of the cross 
came to her and putting his hand on her 
shoulder said, -'God bless you my girl"'. 

IN A HAIL STORM. 

While in her home she passed through an 
experience which seemed characteristic of the 
storm that should follow in her life. 

The weather had been beautiful and no 
thought of a jar in that peaceful home staying. 
Early in the afternoon of July 13th, clouds be- 
gan to gether and soon the entire heavens 
seemed a mas? of rumbling blackness. The 
storm rapidly advanced and soon a terrible tor- 
nado swept over the place, causing the uproot- 
ing of forests, and the d< stroying of fruit tr 
It "was not long however, before the house be- 
gan to tremble and fear filled every heart 
one. With the increasing of the storm 
began to fall, which was fiercely driven by 

64 



wind. At first the hail rapped against the 
window panes, but soon became too violent for 
resistance, and before measures could be taken 
to protect the windows, they began to crash, 
and for a few moments the house seemed 
doomed to destruction. While the terrible 
storm was raging and the hail and rain pour- 
ing through the broken windows, Mis Hardy 
moved calmly about, removing articles that 
were near the windows, and looking after the 
interests of the family. A touching sight in- 
deed. In the midst of the fearful storm there was 
a peaceful, trustful look on her face that could 
not be described. When the storm had subsid- 
ed one of the family remarked how dreadful 
and mentioned their fear of the house being 
destroyed, when Miss Hardy looked up and 
smiled through unconscious tears and said "I 
felt no fear but rather felt like singing through 
it all." She arose one morning soon after 
this, with a peculiar radiance about her face, 
and seemed unconscious of her surroundings. 
Stepping to the dining room door she said, * 'I 
saw Jesus last night. He came and stood in 
that door, (pointing to the door) and beckoned 
for me. Oh! His face was so sweet as he 
smiled on me, that I never want any greater 
joy than His presence". 



65 



Blessed is the Masters promise 
Which to every child is given; 

If we now go forth with weeping 
Our reward is great in heaven. 

When we turn our eyes to Jesus, 
Looking through a veil of tears. 

We can see Him in His beauty, 
And he takes away our fears. 

Oh, the rainbow of His promise, 
Written with his precious blood, 

Gives such peace and satisfaction. 
To the soul that trusts in God. 



66 



CHAPTER VIE 



A BUSY WOKKER. 



Miss Hardy's vacation soon came 10 a close 
and she entered upon AssociationaJ worfc in 
Pennsylvania. Prior to this her time had been 
well occupied, but now she began to feel as 
never before the meaning of Christ's words 
when He said, "Follow me". 

Just before leaving for her state work she 
wrote a letter to the "Kings Daughters" of 
Syracuse, N. Y. , extracts of which will now 
follow. This letter will be followed by her 
own reports while traveling from point to 
point in Pennsylvania and speaking in the in- 
terests of the Womans Baptist Home Mission 
Society. 

To the King's Daughters: — The deepest joy 
comes not to those who have received most, 
but to those who have done and given most. I 
am wondering if the dear King's Daughters of 
Syracuse who have given me so much are any 
happier than I am. Some way I know so little 
of the joy of giving. I had only my poor self 
to give, and since I gave that the dear Lord 
has kept me busy thanking Him for all the 
grand things He has given me. 

67 



August 26th, M >- Hardy \vt\ htmv a»»d 
entered upmi he work. S w m:!<l" her first 
address h1 Damascus, und reports as follows: 

The nighi after the Association at Damas- 
cus I Btaved al Cohoeion which is jusl am *a 
the liver, and took the train in the morning tor 
Honesdale. A Mrs. Renisen met me at Hie 
depot and took m<' home with her to r<'.«1 nil 
Saturday. 1 did rest, but she didn't, p«««»r 
woman. She was just as good as >h»- could •»«', 
but talk, my! She was wound up for eigbt 
days and there was do stopping her day or 
night. I spoke at Hawlcy and Honesdale and 
then took the gravity for Curbondale and 
reached Philadelphia this evening Aug. 3 1st. 
Sept. 4th. I had a very plesant time at Mt. 
Plesant Association and reached Pittsburg 
safely last night. 

Sept. Sth. " I spoke three times Sunday and 
had a good time, and especially in the evening. 
Last evening I had another good time at Mt. 
Washington Church. 

Ebenezer West Va., Sept. 12th:— Sunday 
I £ave an address in a Sunday School, a Y. M. 
C. A. meeting, and at the Oakland church of 
Pittsburg in the evening. Gave an address on 
Monday evening and two on Tue-day. \\ ed- 
nesday, left for Centivville, Crawford Co., 
Reached there at I p.m.. gave an address and 
started for Pittsburg at T:3« k p in. Reached 
Pi i tsburw 1 just in time for breakfast and then 



an 



started for an all day meeting at Sharpsburg. 
Spoke four times there and reached Pittsburg 
that night. At 7:00 next morning left for 
Ebenezer and met my friend at Chapsville. We 
reached, Collins at 3 p. m. but had a four mile 
trip over in the country. How to get there 
we did not know, but finally found a man un- 
loading lumber who said he would take us if 
we would wait until he got his car loaded. We 
took supper with him and then started. O! 
such a country. Wild does not describe it. 
After we had traveled what seemed to us hours 
we saw a light through the trees and the man 
"reckoned that was our church". We at once 
struck up, and that right heartily, "Here I'll 
rise my Ebenezer," but before we had "safely 
arrived at home,'' there was one of those 
terrible plunges and we held our breth until we 
reached the church. 

September 15th: — I am again in Pittsburgh,, 
but my experience would fill a book. 

Well, I had to get back to Pitisburgh Mon- 
day, and the only way was to take a twenty- 
three mile wagon ride that night with a farmer 
who was going through Clayville. Seven 
miles of the distance was through a valley 
with steep mountains on each side, and most 
of the way there was just room for the creek 
and the road. They had a terrible flood a few 
days before and the road was entirely washed 
away, so we went back and forth over that 



69 



creek at least fifty times. Now with one 
wheel upon a rock and the other one in the 
water, and again with the water up in the 
wagon box. Think of seven miles of that kind 
of riding and not one inch of road any of the 
way. I stayed lhat night at a wealthy lum- 
ber dealers in Clayville, and never before did 
I know how to appreciate civilization and a 
good bed. 

September 22nd: — I started from Pittsburgh 
this morning knowing less about how I was to 
reach my destination than I did when I went 
to the Panhandle association in West Va. By 
questioning the conductor I found I could take 
the ten-mile hack from Washington. Pa., and 
get within three fourths of a mile of the 
church. 

Meadville, Pa., September 29th: — Sunday 
I went to Clayville and gave four addresses. 
Last night I had a meeting, and this morning 
started early for Cambridge. So here I am to 
get in Cambridge after dark; no one knows 
I am coming, and the rain is pouring and has 
been all day, but I always find some way. I 
speak at this association to-morrow afternoon 
and then must take a 4 p. m. train for Waver- 
ly, N. Y., at 1 a. m. At 6 a. m. must take 
the Reading road to Hazleton, Pa. I will get 
there at 1 p. m. and must give an address in 
the afternoon and one in the evening, and then 
go on to Philadelphia. 

70 



Philadelphia, October 9th: — O how busy I 
have been since your letter came; speaking and 
traveling night and day. No doubt you think 
I have gone to Mexico and have been eaten up 
or something worse by this time. I was to go 
the first of October, but God seems to have 
planned otherwise. When I received my list 
of associations the last one was the Philadel- 
phia, October 6th. I have planned all along to 
attend that and then go home long enough to 
pack my trunk, and start for Mexico via. Sy- 
racuse. 

When I reached Philadelphia October 2nd, 
I found engagements had been made for me up 
to November 4th. You don't know how I 
have dreaded working in the Philadelphia 
churches, even for a week. When I found I 
had a whole month of it, it seemed a little too 
much. I haven't heard from Chicago yet, and 
they may let me go before that time. I am 
willing to go or stay if it is only "At His Bid- 
ding '> 

I dreaded my address at the Philadelphia 
association. There was that immense church 
packed and more than a hundred D. D.'s, and 
hundreds of other people — and think of poor 
little me in the pulpit. But the Lord was 
there too bcause He knew I needed him, and 
think of it; they actually cheered me. My 
subject was "The Privilege and Joy of Work- 
ing with Jesus." Will you think I am getting 

71 



puffed up if I tell you what I overheard one 
of Philadelphia's most prominent minister* 
say? I am not. If God can use a weak sinful 
girl like me to accomplish anything, to Him be 
the glory — certainly not to me. He said, "I 
can't bear those masculine women who get up 
and wave their hands and shout, but I do love 
to hear a modest, sweet woman speak — well, 
just as Miss Hardy did this afternoon. 

I will give a big sigh of relief when my last- 
address is given here; yes, in many ways the 
work has been delightful. It has been a won- 
derful privilege to meet so many of the grand 
Baptists of Pennsylvania. Here is a little 
poem I gave at the close of my address: 

Angels long to bear the message, 

Of God's grace so full and free, 
But the precious loving Saviour, 

Trusted it with you and me, 
For He said they are my children, 

'Twasfor them He bled and died; 
They shall bear the glorious tidings, 

Of a Saviour crucified. 
Then he gave us homes of plenty, 

And His word to guide our way, 
That we help Him lead the lost one^, 

Out of darkness into day. 
Oh! the wondrous joy of working 

Hand in hand with Jesus here; 
There's no longer toil or burden, 

Sacrifice, or want or fear. 
And the "Well Done" of our Master. 

When with that all Heaven shall ring r 
We shall know the joy of working, 

W^ith our Saviour, Lord and King. 



2 



CHAPTER IX, 

THE NEW FIELD. 

Prior to her trip to Mexico a reception was 
given Miss Hardy at her home at East Hush. 
A large company of friends were present, who 
gave her many presents. One present worthy 
of note was a beautisul pillow which was pre- 
sented by her brother, F. J. Hardy and wife. 

A few days previous to her death, her field- 
mate, Miss Esther Gal van, said, ''Miss Hardy 
will you give me your pillow when you die ?" 
She, unconsciously said yes; neither of them 
having a thought that the end was so near. It 
has not yet been learned whether this was the 
last pillow on which her head la}% nor whether 
Miss Galvan has it now, but its history is dear 
to both Miss Galvan and the brother and sister 
who gave it. 

THE HOME FAREWELL. 

A touching address was given by Miss Har- 
dy at East Rush, November 1st. The address 
was apparently under inspiration and left a last- 
ing impression on the entire congregation. It 
was her last public utterance in Pennsylvania, 



and indeed a parting benediction and blessing to 
the people of East Rash and vicinity. 

On November 3rd the family gathered round 
the familiar hearth almost in silence; neither can 
their thoughts be expressed. The evening how- 
ever did not close in silence. Clara quietly 
moved to the table and taking the old family Bi- 
ble from its resting place, handed it to her bro- 
ther, F. J. Hardy, who read from its sacred 
page. Then quietly all kneeled while Fred feel- 
ingly talked with the Father in heaven. The 
hearts of the others were too full for utterance 
and they silently retired. 

EARLY IMPRESSIONS 

In her last address at Rush, Miss Hardy re- 
dferrd to her first impressions of mission work, 
which dated back to the age of twelve. At that 
early age she in company with her parents at- 
tended a missionary meeting at Merrick, Pa., 
where she heard a Miss Phila Brink, a returned 
missionary from India, who appeared in native 
costume and spoke of her work in India. 

No one ever heard Miss Hardy speak of this 
meeting and the impressions received then, 
until her last address at East Rush, when she 
said she had longed to be a missionary from 
that early date. 



74 



A DESCRIPTIVE JOURNEY. 

Farewell services were held in the Delaware 
Street Baptist Church of Syracuse, N. Y., the 
evening of November 5th. On November 6th, 
she bade farewell to many loving friends and 
turned her face towards the field of her love 
and sacrifice. In the tribute prepared by the 
committee from her church the following ap- 
pears: "Nov. 6th. 1896 from a church of 
loving friends she left us for Pueblo and for 
heaven." 

Miss Hardy reached Chicago the 8th, of 
November and from there she writes : — I start 
to-morrow at 11 a. m. and reach St. Louis 
where Miss Watts joins me, at 7:12 p. m. and 
then go on to Loredo Texas, reaching there at 
4:02, Wednesday evening. A train leaves for 
Mexico City at 4:10, giving us only five 
minutes for tickets. She will leave me at 
Monteray, and Miss Galvan will join me there 
unless she has gone on to Pueblo. I hope she 
has not, it will be so nice to have her with me. 

We will reach Mexico City Friday at 9.55 
^a. m. if we make connections at Loredo. We 
stop in Mexico City over 'Sunday and go on to 
Pueblo Monday or Tuesday. 

Clvcago, Nov. 9th: — At last I am on my 
-way south and soon must bid farewell to the 
'"land < f the free and the home of the brave." 



75 



1 had said good bye to a Dumber of the ^irls 
at "2411", and thought it was about over, but 
when I came down stairs there they were, all 
gathered in the reception hall— all to be kissed 
and good-byed. They gave me anenvelope con- 
taining a note from each one, to be read by 
Miss Watts and myself as we cross the line. A- 
I went out they sang that beautiful Hymn: — 

" Speed away, speed away 
, On your mission of light 

To the lands that are lying 
In darkness and night." 

At St. Louis all right ; Miss Watts is here : 
we start for Loredo, Texas, in half an hour. 

Little Rock, Ark., Nov. 10th:— We took a 
sleeper last night in St. Louis and awoke about 
twentx miles from Little Rock. At least 1 
awoke, but poor Miss Watte was never in a 
sleeper before and didn't get to sleep once. 

You cannot imagine how different everything 
looks. Some of the trees look all bare and 
dead like those at home ; others just turning 
while others are so pretty and green. There is 
much pine, but 1 do not know what the other 
trees are. 

Here we are in a large cotton held with about 
twenty negroes in bright dress and white tur- 
ban, tilling their big blue aprons with the snowy 
material. Surely 1 am in the k ' land of de cot- 



76 



ton and d ■ cant'." Lii.tle picaninnies who seem 
to think a big wide rimmed hat is all they need, 
hang over the fence watching us pass. Yes, 
and there is a genuine razor back. Were I a 
poet or an artist it would fire my genius. 

Some of the houses look like dry goods 
hoxes with an opening in one side, and just 
ready to fall down; but goodbye familiar scenes 
to be packed into them. 

Texas, 1:30 P. M. : — At Texercano, our last 
stop, we got off the train twenty minutes. I 
wish 1 could describe the flowers to you. I 
just longed to jump over the fence and pick 
some of them. The cow-boy is here in all his 
glory on his pony or mule. 

One thing I saw makes me feel sad ; that is 
signs like this on cars and rooms in depots : 
" for Whites," "for Negroes." Surely 'tis a 
beautiful land where only man is vile. 

Wednesday morning : — Our first greeting 
this morning was from a whole crowd of colored 
children who shouted '-hello da!" with all 
their little lungs, as we passed. We are near 
Antonia now, and it is much warmer than yes- 
terday. The trees are low, and the shrubbery 
and immense cactus are everywhere-; so are 
Mexicans. We are getting little first glimpses 
of the material on which we must work in the 
future. It is not very promising I can tell 
you, and you must pray hard that our faith 
fail not. 



77 



The little boys in .their bio bats, ragged 
shirts and immense white trousers arc cute : 
and their bright black eyes make me hope it 
will not be impossible to instill some know > 
into their brown litile heads. 

To our right there is a whole party camping 
under the trees; whether it is just a picnic or 
whether they live there I know not. One 
man is at a little stream fishing, and I suppose 
will be there like a statue all day, whether he 
gets a bite or not. 

They are lying on the ground sleeping, all 
along the track, and how they can do it is more 
than I can tell, for the ground is literally 
swarming with immense red ants. 

I smile to think how 7 we used to struggle to 
start cactus. It is dry here, and in places 
there is little growing except those great thorny 
plants. Some are as high as a man's head, but 
usually they are low, one plant covering a place 
as large as a house. I cannot describe the 
flowers, I only wish I could stop and pick 
some. 

I think we will have little trouble with our 
trunks. The porter says we will not. 

Our porter and conductor are both Mexicans 
now. The porter says he will mail this on the 
north -bound train if I will hurry up, so good- 
bye untill I write from a new strange land. 
God be with you all till we meet again. 

78 



C Mexico, Nov, 12th :— Yes 1 am reaiiy in 
Mexico, well — not very tired, and happy. I 
wish I could describe the country we are pass- 
ing through. Wild and desolate are the best 
terms. We are 4.000 feet above sea level and 
the climate is delightful. On both sides are 
mountains which look as if they were about a 
mile away, but the porter informs me that 
those on the right are about three hundred and 
those on the left about fifty miles away. We 
have been very near some of them and they 
look like immense heaps of sand, but are really 
of lime stone formation. 

On the plateau around the R. R. there is 
little vegetation except the cactus, mountain 
pine and a kind of little green shrub. 

Occasionally we come to a little village of 
from three to twenty huts, and all the people 
come out to welcome us. At Catarce we stop- 
ed twenty minutes for breakfast and I got off 
to see the sights. There we saw pure unadul- 
terated Mexicans. The men wear sandalls with 
straps fastening them up over their feet. . No 
stockings, long tight pants, and blankets usual- 
ly red, brought up around their faces, so that 
in some cases their eyes are almost all you can 
see. A wide rimmed hat about a foot high 
coming to a peak, ornamented in all sorts of 
ways, completes a picturesque outfit. The 
women wear short skirts, and wrap their re- 
boso, a kind of shawl, about their head and 

79 



shoulders. The children wear what happens to 
be left over. 

Now I must tell you bow 1 got through the 
custom house. Before we reached Loredo i 
man came on who is called the | 
tant. I had letters for Miss Wait-. Miss Ghd- 
van and myself, to a man in Loredo a-king for 
half fare. He said that man was not bomeand 
we would have to lay. over a day: hut when he 
looked at Miss Galvan'sname he said, -T kuow 
her well." Then he added. "1 will see what I 
can do." He soon came in and showed us a 
book published by the Baptist Publication 
Society and said. "I am a Baptist." Well, the 
way that man helped us was wonderful. They 
crave him the tiekets all right. He winked at 
the inspector and he simply looked in one of 
the trunks, but never even touched it. There 
he changed our checks and saved us paying 
about $10.00 for excess baggage, helped us 
change our money and sent us on our way re- 
joicing. Surely the Lord has not forgotten 
His promise to be with us. and he will not for- 
get it. 

Miss Watts left me at Montera\ at midnight, 
and Miss Galvan cannot come untill Saturday. 
City of Mexico, Nov. 13th:— I reached the 
city at 1 a. m.. and found Miss Jones and her 
native helper at the depot to meet me. I am to 
stay with her untill Tuesday and then no on to 
Pueblo. 



I 



The climate is delightful, not hot, nor cold. 
I wish you could have walked through the park 
with me this morning and seen the flowers; 
! -it the poverty of the people is terrible, it is 
indescribable and it grows worse as we go 
south. 

I am taking them the gospel of Salvation full 

and free, 
I am giving, praying, working that Mexico 

for Christ mav be. 



81 



CHAPTER X, 

THE LAST BRAVE ACT. 
FROM HER OWN PEN. 

Pueblo, Mexico, November 18th — :Miss 
Gal van and I started for Pueblo yesterday 
morning at seven o'clock, but had a lot of fun 
getting here. We bought our tickets in the 
morning, and Mr. Sloan, Miss Jones and a 
dozen others saw us safely on the train. Not 
a word was said about changing car-, and the 
conductor never said a word when he punched 
our tickets. They do not call out the static 
these Mexican roads, but we knew we would 
know Pueblo when we saw it, so asked no 
questions. 

They have first, second and third class cars, 
(and everything else) and we took first class, 
but it was a miserable ride. Everybody 
smokes in Mexico and they smoke everywhere. 
By the time noon came we felt like smoked 
hams, and Miss Galvan was deathly sick. 
When it was time for us to be in Pueblo the 
conductor came around and I handed him the 
tickets. He shrugged his shoulders in true 
Mexican style and said, "Pueblo, why you 

82 



on<jfht to have changed at Apezaco. Now you 
are down to E.^peianza and can't get back to 
Pueblo until nearly six o'clock p. m." 
Wasn't that delightful news? The whole 
afternoon in that smoking car. 

Mr. Green was to meet us, and, of course 
he wouldn't meet a train coming from the 
south. We knew only his P. O. Box number 
but had no idea of the stieet. The same con- 
ductor was going back to Apezaco, so he took 
us back and put us on the right train for Pue- 
blo. Going up w T e began talking to an Ameri- 
ca i C O 

can coffee dealer who was going to Pueblo. 
He said if Mr. Green didn't meet us at the de- 
pot, we could take a carriage and he would 
help us find him. I didn't like to think of a 
stranger, but what could we do? 

After driving all over the city we found the 
place after seven o'clock and had a hearty 
welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Green. I must 
tell you about our dinners. An old woman 
was on the train selling enchiladas and we de- 
cided to try them. They were tortillas rolled 
in red pepper, with cheese and onions inside. 
With this there was a piece of steak, some 
potatoes, onions, radishes, lettuce and goodness 
knows how many other things mixed up with 
grease and pepper. I was hungry enough to 
eat anything and down it went. 
After we reached the city I got a smell of some 
red pepper cooking — and sick — I thought I 
never could stand it. 

83 



Mrs. Greet] had H beautiful supper. J»nt I 
could not eat and went to ford with nay head 
nearly bursting, and almost >u-k enough to die. 
This morning I felt better; but a smell of Chili 

<?amc up from somawhere and again it nearly 

killed n)e for about five minutes. I goon <n>t 
over it, however, and havu felt splendid all 
day; No more chili for nan hereafter. 

I am sure I shall like it here very much. 
The climate is more than delightful. Take 
the most beauiiful day you have in the year and 
you have an average of the weather here. 
We can see four snow capped volcanoes; Po- 
pocatepetl, Iztan, Orizalea. The name of the 
other I cannot remember. We had the most 
beautiful view of them coming yesterday. 
You cannot imagine how beautiful they are, 
rising way up from the plain, their great peaks 
covered with snow. The sun was shining on 
it so beautifully yesterday, and in this clear, 
rare atmosphere everything looks so beiutiful. 
The white, fleecy clouds would come between 
us and the mountains and it looked so strange. 
We seemed to be above the clouds most of the 
time. Last night we saw the sun set behind 
old Popocatepetl which was most magnificent 
of all. The sky was just like a sea of gold. 
Banks of red clouds were back of the great, 
white peak; a sight I can never forget. 

November 26th: — This aiorning I was in 
the market getting our fish and vegetables for 

84 



the week. The market women are a sight. 
In fact it is all a sight and one that it would 
be impossible to describe. These women wear 
just a white chemise, sometimes embroidered 
with beads or in fancy colors, bat without 
sleeves, and extending low in the neck. These 
with a short skirt comprise the market woman's 
outfit. 

The babies are all there too, some of them 
entirely naked, tied to something so they can- 
not get away; but can creep around among the 
fruit or go to sleep on the hard boards just 
as they please. 

We made three calls day before yesterday. 
Two of the houses were quite nice and clean, but 
the other was horrible. Ten people live in one, 
tiny, little room. Two of the women were 
making rebosses. They sit all day on the 
brick floor and work just as hard as they can 
for twelve cents. 

O, how I long for the power of speech that 
I may tell those hungry, dying people of the 
love of Jesus. 

December 15th: — I had a delightful time 
yesterday. Miss Galvan and two of our Sun- 
day school scholars went with me eight miles 
out of the city to the pyramids of Clulula. 
We went early and took our lunch. It was a 
lovely ride of an hour on the street-car, and 
the day was just perfect. 



There are three pyramids which were built 
by the Aztecs for worship. On the la 
one they had a temple where they had human 
sacrifice ; which was torn down by the 
Spaniards and a Catholic cathedral built which 
still stands. 

Rodelfo and Elvina arc just as nice- as they 
can be. You should hear them teach me 
Spanish. Rodelfo thinks it great fun. He 
little knows how much he teaches me. He is 
an earnest Christian and has a wonderful talent 
for oratory. We hope to have a minister some- 
day, if only some way can be provided to give 
him an education. 



86 




II 



THE VIRGIN OF 
GUADELUPE. 

In 'my last letter 
I promised to tell 
y o u something 
about our trip to 
Guadelupe, that 
most sacred spot 
in Mexico. It is 
three miles from 
the City of Mex- 
ico, and cars run 
every half hour. 
We started early 
one beautiful 
morning and 
when I saw the 
little mules with their heads down, hitched to 
the car, I thought it would be a tedious ride ; 
but the driver cracked his whip, made a pecu 
liar hissing sound, and such a surprise. Those 
little mules galloped away at a rate that would 
make some of our American horses stare in 
wonder. We think of everything as being 
slow, but surely the street car mules are not. 
In a short time we were there, and after 
examining and buying some of the curious 
black pottery which is made only at Guadelupe, 



•OUR LADY OF GUADELUPE' 
OF MEXICO. 



87 



we visited the "house of the Virgin ftpru 
The house is little more than a shed and we 
went inside and stood on the very rock which • 
the Virgin's foot touched when she appeared to 
Juan DiegO, Dee. 12th. 1532, and saw the 
spring which gushed forth at that touch. 

It is really quite a wonderful boiling spring, 
and hundreds of ptople were- there drinking and 
buying some to take borne in their botiies. 
They think it has wonderful healing power for 
both soul and body. 

Next we cliinbed'the rough stone steps to the 
top of the hill and saw the rock from wnich 
the roses grew for Juan to take to the Bishop 
as a sign that he had seen the virgin and that 
she wanted a temple erected there in her honor. 
A pretty little temple has been built there and 
back of it is the ccmelry where only the 
wealthy can be buried. Some of the tombs are 
magnificent little temple- by themselves, with 
altars where the priests go in and say mas 
for the dead. Two of these were entirely of 
the most beautiful onyx: and the flowers were 
beyond all description. The word ••perpetua- 
ted" on many of the tombs attracted my atten- 
tion, but my friends said some of the tombs 
were taken only for a number of years, then 
the bodies were removed; but those marked 
"perpetuated" could never be touched. 

Another place that interested me was the 
cave or grotto. There are four curious little 

88 



rooms in the rocks, the walls of which are 
covered with broken bits of glass and pottery 
in mosaics. From the door of the grotto we 
saw what appeared to be the most of a ship 
with the sails set. On inquiring what it was I 
had this story from an old man who keeps the 
grotto:— ''Some Sailors who were once threat- 
ened with ship-wreck pra\ ed to the virgin for 
preservation, and promised if they were saved 
to bring the mast of their ship and set it up as 
an evidence of her power and their gratitude. 
They were delivered, and this huge mass of 
stone is their memorial/' 

As we descended ihe hill on the other side 
some women were making sweet-corn cakes 
called gorditas. We stopped to try them and 
admire the scenery. We fouud the cakes 
really delicious. The view of the valley of 
Mexico; the city; all that is left of Lake Tex- 
coco, and the valley beyond, ending in the 
snow capped summits of the volcanoes, is 
magnificent. At the foot of the hill is the vil- 
lage and the beautiful cathedral of Guadelupe. 
Few Mexican temples are pretty; but this one 
is, both inside and out. The floors are inlaid 
of different colored woods; the gorgeous deco- 
rations of the altar, displaying silk, gold, sil- 
ver and onyx trimmings; frescoes on walls and 
dome; all combine to make a most beautiful 
interior. Above the altar with its railing of 
solid silver, is the identical blanket which Juan 

89 



wore on that memorial morning, and on which 
he found the image of the Virgin when be let 
it down to show the roses to the Bishop. It 
was in a glass case with a heavy L r «»ld frame, 
and it is this image that is worshipped by all 
Mexico. 

Lasl December it was crowned queen of 
heaven. Mother of God and Patroness of Mex- 
ico with a crown that cost $200,000, her 
everyday crown: the more expensive one being 
put away for great feast days, lest it Bhould 
be stolen. 

CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO. 

They never have Christmas trees, give pres- 
ents nor do any of the other things that are a 
part of Christmas to us. We are planning a 

very nice tree and Christmas entertainment in 
the mission, but small pox is raging terribly in 
the city now and I am afraid it will interfere 
with our plans 

Last week we visited one of our Sunday 
School girls It was a wretched plaee ; four- 
teen people live in one little room, with no fur- 
niture except a rough mat in one corner, on 
which a poor little baby was moaning, oh, so 
piteously. We were there half an hour and 
then asked if the baby was sick. She brought 
it to us saying it had the measles. It's face was 
covered with ugly blotches that I thought 
strange measles, but we told her as best we 

90 



could what to do and came away. Od Sunday 
the mother sent word that she hoped we would 
excuse her little girls as two of the babies had 
small-pox and she had no time to wash Euri 
quita's dress. They think almost nothing of 
the disease here. Fever is dreaded more. 

A VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL AT PUEBLO. 

The first thing that attracted our attention 
as we entered that magnificent structure, was 
busts of two men in purgatory. The flames are 
up to their necks, and the look of agony on 
their faces indescribable, while a tablet at the 
base begs the people lo contribute toward their 
relief, as their friends have forgotten them. 

All around the cathedral are shrines, each 
with its respective saint The day we visited 
there the heavy gates of those shrines were all 
closed and locked, but each saint has its day for 
worship, then the gates are unlocked and the 
people go in to pray and make their offerings. 
In one was a most beautiful image of "our lady" 
magnificently dressed and crowned, while in 
front of her was a horrible little black image of 
Christ on the cross In another was what they 
call here "the nigger Christ," a life-sized 
image on the cross, black as night. It is said 
to have miraculously appeared for the Indians 
to worship as they did not like the white Christs 
of the Spaniards. 

91 



Confession boxes were every where and -. bove 
each one a pure white dove signifying i lit* pr< 
ence of the Holy Spirit. At two of these, beau- 
tiful young girls were kneeling, waiting for the 
priests to come. How I longed for the power 
of speech that I might tell them of the one 
- Mediator." 

All the furnishings of the cathedral are ma:: 
mficent. Beautiful onyx pillars, exquisite 
carved angels, and tine paintings were in 
strange contrast with the ragged, wretched 
crowd of worshippers. In the dome above the 
altar is a painting of heaven. Mary, in the 
center, i.*- beiug crowned queen, while all heaven 
is bowed in worship. 

To me the most horrible of all was the image 
of the (.lead Christ. It was lying in a L r 
near one of the doors, and represented Christ 
just as He was taken from the crons. It was a 
most revolting sight. The eyes were rolled 
though in the agonies of the death struggle : 
the face and body were covered with blood: the 
arms were torn from their sockets : great rap- 
ing wounds from which the blood seemed to be 
flowing, were in the feet, hands and side, and 
nearly half of the flesh was discolored. It was 
all so perfectly natural that Miss Gal van. 
although a Mexican and accustomed to such 
sights all of her life, was sick with horror as 
we tin ned awav. 



92 



A (lend Christ: I have sometimes tried to 
think what it would mean if Christ had never 
risen ; and here I am beginning to realize it. 
God grant that He may soon rise in the hearts 
and lives of the Mexican people. 

EXTRACTS FROM MISS HARDY'S LAST LETTER. 

Pueblo, January 1st, 1897: — You asked me 
if our work was to turn Catholics to our faith. 
It is to turn them to the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Here we have pure Catholicism No, not that 
either, but we see Catholicism in its true light. 
The people, worship images just as much as 
they did before the Spaniards came and com- 
pelled them to be called Catholics, only their 
old idols are given the names of Christ, Mary, 
the Saints, etc, and they worship those images 
with no thought of anything beyond. 

All their churches are. full of images and 
with the most of them there are tablets telling 
how they miracuouslw appeared and the 
wonderful miracles they have wrought. They 
know no Christ except the priests who claim 
to be Christs. They are of the vilest set of 
men; nearly all of them have large families 
and make no secret whatever of it, but it 
would be a great crime for them to marry. 
Catholicism in Mexico is beyond expression. 



93 



CHAPTER XL 



THE SAD NEWS. 



In Pueblo, Mexico, Miss Hardy bad entered 
upon her labors with undaunted faith that 
seemed to lay hold of the very throne of (rod. 
It was the one earnest desire of her heart that 
she might lead Pueblo to the foot of the croaa 
of Christ. Her work was simply begun as we 
look.at it from the human standpoint; but in 
God's great plan her life was complete and her 
work finished. She took small-pox while cal- 
ling upon her Sunday school scholars; and af- 
ter a brief week of terrible su tiering, was cal- 
led home to appear with the glorious King of 
Kings Her last days were touching and her 
death indeed sad as is seen by the following 
letters from her co-workers. 

Pueblo, January 9th. 1897:— Human words 
and phrases are hard and cold at best and at 
such a time as this of little avail. We can 
only say "God comfort you." 

Clara passed to her rest this morning at half 
past seven. Last evening about seven she ask- 
ed if she could live much longer. I told her I 
thought not. She said, "It is much better to 
go soon and be at rest. I loved these people 



94 



and wanted to work for them, bat if God wills 
otherwise I am willing." 

She suffered terribly and was very restless 
until a few hours before her death, when she 
lay back softly on the pillow and never strug- 
gled any more. Her breathing grew fainter 
and at exactly half past seven ceased. Her 
last words were, "Let us hurry and go." 
"Go where?"' we asked, and she replied, 
"Home." 

She was perfectly conscious until five o'clock 
this morning when she seemed to take no not- 
ice of anyone. She told us? to bury her in 
her new brown dress and we did so. We laid 
her to rest in a simple but neat casket at four 
this afternoon, with a simple service at the 
grave conducted by Mr. Green. A few faith- 
ful members went with us regardless of dan- 
ger; they loved her very much. To-morrow 
we have a memorial service at the church. 

May God comfort you as only He can. 
Yours prayerfully, 
Susan E. Jones. 

FROM MEXICO. 

My humble labors in this city have been in- 
augarated under very sad circumstances. 
Upon arriving Wednesday, the 6th of this 
month, I learned that Miss Clara B. Hardy, 
missionary in this field from the Woman's so- 

95 



eiety (, t tl 1( ' Baptist chtircb of Chicago, U. S 
A . had been very low sine- the 2d day of tin; 
month with black small pox. the graves! form 
of this terrible disease ad it is almo*1 always 
fatal. Although she va^ well attended by two 
of the best physicians of this city and by the 
loving and faithful eare of the Mi>m i > Esther 
Gal van and Susan Jones, the obstinate dis- 
ease continued its course, taking the strength 
and life of the sick one until she died day be- 
fore yesterday, the 9th of this month, at 7: 
A. M. 

The burial took place at 4 o'clock of the 
same day, the body being carried to the 
Government cemetery, where before the in 
terment we had a brief funeral service, with 
the brethern who assisted at the burial, led 
by the Rev. YV. T. Green. 

Yesterday at 10 o'clock, at the usual hour 
of public worship, we had a memorial service 
in honor of the one who has passed away. 
The Rev. W. T. Green, Mrs. Green. Misa 
Susan Jones and the writer spoke. We were 
all profoundly moved, from all eyes flowed 
tears. 

In the evening at 7 o'clock the writer 
preached a funeral sermon to the congregation 
of this church. The death of Miss Hardy has 
been very much felt among all the members of 
the church and her friends; although she did 
not yet speak Spanish, she was so affable, so 

96 



loving, so ardent in the work of the Lord, that 
she captured the general sympathy and has 
left imperishable memories in this field of lab- 
or. 

Miss Hardy was ready to appear before her 
Lord when she was called; her last moments 
were those of a true Christian. She was faith- 
ful unto death and now in the Celestial coun- 
try she wears the crown of life. She died in 
the flower of life since she scarcely counted 26 
years, and when there was the most precious 
hopes for the evangelical work in this field. 
But this is the will of the Lord and we should 
be resigned to His holy will. Blessed are the 
dead that die in the Lord. 

Miss Galvan watched over her with the ten- 
derness of a sister from the beginning of her 
sickness, although it was dangerous for her to 
remain at her side; and Miss Jones did the 
same, having come from' Mexico for that pur- 
pose. 

F. Uriegas 

Pueblo, January 11th, 1897. 

SMALL-POX IN PUEBLO. 

The subject that is occupying public atten- 
tion during these days is the prevalence of 
small pox, that has become epidemic to a degree 
that has not been previously known in this city. 
The ordinary death rate in this city of about 

97 



100,000 people, is fifteen to seventeen per day, 
on an average, hut on account of binaU-pox, 
that has been increasing here since early in 
November, the death rate is about thirty per- 
sons per day. During the eight days of this 
month, closing on Friday night, there had been 
213 peimits for burial issued from the office of 
Civil Registry in this city. 

Among the deaths that have interested the 
English speaking people of this city most prom- 
inently was that of Miss Clara B. Hardy. > 
completed the two years courte in the Wo- 
man's Baptist Training School of Chicago in 
July last, and was appointed by the same soci- 
ety as missionary to Pueblo, to labor in con 
nection with Miss Esther Gal van. a Mexican 
young lady who had been trained in the same 
school, but who had already worked two years 
in the City of Mexico and one in Monterey. 
Miss Hardy was vaccinated just befoie leaving 
the United States, but the vaccination did not 
take effect. During the last days of the year- 
she was exposed to the disease in some way, 
unknown to herself, and on Saturday night. 
January 2nd, was taken violently ill with 
symptoms of small- pox. For six days and 
seven nights she suffered terribly, but a little 
after seven o'clock on Saturday morning death 
came to her relief, and she passed away into 
that land where the " wicked cease from troub- 
ling and the weary are at rest." Miss Gal van, 

9t 



her companio i in toil, remained faithful wilQ 
her, day and night, and in connection with the 
b^'p of others did all that human beings could 
do to alleviate her suft'erini>s and save her life. 
She al.-o had the services of two distinguished 
physicians from this city who were f.ithfully 
with her until the last of Inn- sickness. 

Miss Susan Jones, smother young lady, 
trained in the same school, and under appoint- 
ment of the same society in the City of Mexico, 
came to Pueblo on Thur.-day evening and re- 
mained with Miss lian'.v as a faithful nurse 
until death, and afterwards rendered valuable 
assistance in preparation for the last services of 
burial. We laid the body to rest in the Muni- 
cipal cemetery on Saturday afternoon in con- 
nection with brief religious services, and on 
Sunday morning a m re extensive memorial 
service was conducted in the chapel of the Bap- 
tist Mission in this city. Many persons pres- 
ent manifested that in the death of this young 
lady they had sustained a great loss, for not- 
withstanding her brief residence among us, 
many had learned to love her for her many ex- 
cellent and attractive qualities. 

There is in this case something pathetic to a 
degree that words cannot describe, but the im- 
pression made upon us is one that we can never 
forget. This beautiful young lady, far re- 
moved from her aged parents and all those 
whom she had previously loved, and from all 

Lc*C 99 



the scenes and associations that Inid in past 
years been dear to her, now sleeps in death, 
beneath the soil of a foreign land. With^ 
heart fall of love for the human race, and a de- 
sire to see the world become better, she came to 
Mexico, believing that she could do more here 
in promoting human happiness than in any 
other country. May we not admire her unsel- 
fish spirit, and strive to imitate her noble ex- 
ample, in doing that which we may be able for 
the benefit and blessing of others whose circum- 
stances may be les? favorable in life than are 

ours. 

VY. T. Green. 

Pueblo, January 11th, 1897. 



Chicago, January loth, — Your lovely 
daughter has finished the work given he.r to 
do; It has been well done. Never a missionary 
in Mexico entered the field more joyfully nor 
wave better promise of success. The transfer — 
although it is to heaven — seems strange to us; 
oh, so strange! Yes: and from our human 
point of view so sad. God loved her and has 
opened for her the door to His own blessed 
home where she waits to welcome you. 
With deep sympathy, 

Mary G. Burdette, 
Secretary of the Woman's Baptist Home 
Mission Society. 



100 




The Lonely Grave or Clara B. Hardy, a Missionary <>f thk 

Woman's Baptist Homjs Mission sociBrr. Died January 

9th, 1897. Hither She Came "at His BIDDING" 

AND WAS "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH." 



THE GRAVE IN MEXICO. 

There's a lonely grave, dear readers, 

In the land of Mexico, 
Where remains the form of Clara, 

Whom we loved and cherished so. 

Little did we think that parting-,. 

Was to be the last one here, 
When we saw her smile so tender, 

Thro' a gentle falling tear. 

It was just the common good-bye, 

We so many times had said; 
But 'twas good-bye once forever, 

As away she joyfully sped. 

To obey her loving Saviour, 
And fulfill His last command, 

Took to Mexico the Gospel, 

Then to join the martyr's band. 

Could the flames have been more cruel, 
Or the sword have caused more pain, 

Then the deadly flaming small-pox, 
As her life it broke in twain? 

She has gone to be with Jesus, 
We are left to bear the cross, 

While to her the gain is heaven, 
Sadly we sustain the loss. 

Chords of love have not been broken, 
For we feel their tender strain, 

As they draw our hearts toward heaven, 
Where we soon will meet again. 



103 



Chicago, January 17th:— Ever since the sad 
news came telling of the loved one's illness and 
death, my thoughts have been with her par- 
ents. She was my room-mate five months last 
year and during those month- I learned to love 
her dearly. We had a lovely visit together 
the night'before she went to Mexico, and I 
went to the train with her in the morning. 
My hand was the last she clasped; my lips the 
last she pressed. I can see her sweet fVct 
now, as she sat in the car looking at us out of 
the window. Tears came, but she smiled 
through the tears and her face was full of 
hope." She asked me to put up a lunch for 
her, saying, "I'll think of you when I eat 
it." Little did I think it was the last thing I 
could do for the friend 1 loved so dearly. 

We all loved her ana 1 cannot tell you how 
the hearts at "2411" ache. We cannot under- 
stand why God should call one home so early, 
who was so talented and consecrated to His 
service. But this we know. He doeth all 
things well. 

Your sister in Chri- 

Alice Carter. 

Pueblo, Febuary 12th:— Since dear Miss 
Hardy died I have been sick. I went to Mexi- 
co City for three weeks and came back a week 
ago, but had to take other rooms, for the house 
we had lived in was so full of sad memories. 



104 



I was so impressed with her sickness that I can 
see her yet — and feel very lonely. She was 
sick only a week, bat suffered so terribly that 
she prayed that she might be taken to her 
Father's bosom. 

Esther Galvan. 

Syracuse, N. Y., January 19th; — I suppose 
you have heard the word that came yesterday 
respecting Clara's transaction from her field 
of labor in Mexico to the rest and joy of 
heaven. Sad as it seems to us, isn't it glori- 
ous for dear Clara. It is just as though a 
great loving, earthly king in looking through 
his vast fields saw one of his best, most intelli- 
gent and loving servants at work in a hard 
place, and said to that servant, "Come with 
me, I don't want you here but in my mansion, 
and near me where you can share my gloiy." 
Had it been an earthly king who so said to Clara 
would you not have been glad of such honor for 
your daughter? How much greater reason for 
gratitude and joy, now that the King of 
Kings and Lord of Lords has so honored your 
child. Her life work was not cut short in God's 
great plan; it was only hastened to completion. 
But, oh, what an influence that life has created 
and left in the world. 

I wish you could have been at the prayer- 
meeting last evening and seen and heard her 
brethern in their affectionate testimony to the 

105 



influence of her consecrated life in the churcb 
and in their individual lives; you would have 
been cheered. Oh, how we loved her! None 
seemed to feel that her life was in the least a 
failure, but all seemed to covert her consecra- 
tion, and to be drawn out in deep interest to- 
ward the field in which she began her work 
and from which she was called to heaven. 

I suppose Pueblo, Mexico will be indellibly 
written upon the hearts of scores in the church, 
ultimately to be translated into missionary 
spirit and endeavor. You have reason to 
praise God for having given you such a rare 
treasure, and now for her glorification in 
heaven. I know the separation is painful. I 
extend yon my own and the sympathy of the 
church, and may the Lord comfort your hearts. 
Her Pastor, 

R. E. Burton. 



loe 



CHAPTER XII. 

FINAL TRIBUTES. 

FROM THE WOMAN'S BAPTIST HOME MISSION 
SOCIETY. 

From the time she entered the Training 
school, Miss Clara B. Hardy impressed us as 
one who had very intimate communication 
with Jesus Christ. She loved with deep de- 
votion the Master to whom she had given her 
life. She was not impatient to enter upon her 
work in Mexico, because she realized that she 
needed every lesson and all the experience 
gained here, in order to do worthily the work 
to which she felt called. 

In her house to house visitation she showed 
such a loving sympathetic spirit that she won 
friends in every home. Some were won for 
Christ and shine even now in the crown of her 
rejoicing. 

She was very unselfish in her intercourse 
with her fellow students. All loved her and 
believed in her perfect sincerity. She was 
never gloomy or moody, but by her uniform 
cheerfulness she recommended the Gospel. 

Mrs. C. D. Morris. 



107 



MEMORIAL SERVICES CONDUCTED AT EAST BUSH 
M. E. OHUKCH. 

The death of Clara B. Hardy occasioned 
deep regret in the hearts of her friends, who 
had known her before her departure to her 

mission field. A memorial service was held at 
East Rush, Susquehanna County, Pennsyl- 
vania, near her childhood home, on Sunday. 
February 7th, 1897. 

The house where she had attended church 
services and Sunday school, was filled with rel- 
atives and friends of the place and surrounding 
country. The Scripture reading by Rev. J. 
C. Madden; prayer by Robert McLauren, M. 
E. pastor; testimony to her work and influ- 
uence by Miss Effie Dunmore. an M. E. mis- 
sionary, whose location in Mexico was near the 
field of Miss Hardy's labors: the sermon by 
W. C. Tilden; the singing: all were listened to 
with deep solemnity and interest. 

The hymns sung were, u Lo, the Golden 
Fields are smiling, 7 ' page 113, and "Valley of 
Rest," page 153^in "Finest of Wheat," No. 
I, also "Sleep the Last Sleep," page 78, Fix- 
cell's Anthems. Text of sermon, Mark l-t:S. 
first clause, "She Hath Done What She Could." 

The death of Clara B. Hardy is a just occa- 
sion of sadness from the earthly view. As a 
daughter and sister dear to the home circle 
and precious in the memories of the past home 

108 



life, for she was lovable and true. As a girl 
in school and in social life, loved and esteemed, 
her early death is a sad blow to all. 

Her christian life was earnest and conse- 
crated. To honor the Master and lead others 
to him was the desire* of her heart. 

Her advanced school life and work in con- 
nection with the Training school for mission- 
ary service bore full witness, and the eagerness 
with which she accepted an appointment as 
missionary to Mexico, to her a call from God, 
was full proof of her readiness to be in the ac- 
tive work of the Lord's vineyard. 

The few months allowed her on the field 
were filled with earnest efforts to acquire the 
language and learn the life of the people and 
at the same time to lead souls to Christ for 
salvation. She did not live in vain, nor shall 
we say her life was a failure. The testimony 
of those associated with her is such as to lead 
to a full conclusion that her work was not in 
vain, but fruit shall be gathered as a reward 
of her work and consecration. We may feel 
that our blessed Lord approved, as in the text, 
i 'She hath done what she could." She loved 
her home and home friends, and had desires 
as others of her age and times, and a surrender 
of all these for a far away life among a strange 
and bigoted people that she might tell the 
story of Jesus' love and power to save was the 
precious ointment she would bring to the Mas- 

109 



ter she loved and adored. Humility and trusl 
were in the offering, and blessed be her r< 

Our text suggests thoughts worthy of our 
consideration. 

First — The penitence and trust in the act. 
The woman's felt need brought her to the feet 
of the Lord, notwithstanding the many hin- 
drances to her coming. Her womanly re- 
serve would have naturally restrained her from 
any such act, the house of the self-righteous 
and haughty Pharisee: the surrounding com- 
pany, servants and guests; the thoughts of 
scorn and comdemnation; the wonderful teach- 
er — but her troubled soul was seeking comfort, 
and looked beyond all obstacles. Then her 
trust in the compassion of the great Teacher 
enabled her to come confidently and pour upon 
His feet the costly ointment as her offering. 

Second —The fitness in person and time. It 
was the Lord. Nothing was too good to make 
manifest her love and devotion. 

The costly ointment and sweet perfume 
could show the spirit now controlling her 
heart, and it was the best she had. So now 
no self denial; no consecrated devotion is too 
great when given to Jesus, and His work. It 
may be the giving up of home and the loved 
society of friends, like the gifts of our depart- 
ed sister, and yet how small the gifts are compar- 
ed with what Jesus has done for us — He gave 
Himself. Then was the time, Jesus was near; 

119 



in the city ; in the Pharisee's house she could 
reach Him; it was her time. How many fail 
to do for Jesus by not using the time givent 
The opportunity passes. 

The time— Jesus' work was soon to close, 
his death and burial were near. She could 
now anoint Him as for and before His burial; 
she did, and the Lord approved, although men 
looked askance, and condemned. 

How many of earth keep their box of oint- 
ment sealed until after the burial., when it 
cannot avail! Much better to speak the word 
of commendation, of loving approval when it 
can cheer the heart and strengthen the life than 
to sing hymns of praise and raise costly monu- 
ments to the dead. 

"She hath done what she could." 

Let the life of the departed join the word of 
the Master to encourage each of us to do, re- 
membering the word, "Inasmuch as ye have 
done it unto one of the least of these ye have 
done it unto Me/' Amen. 

MY ACQUAINTANCE WITH MISS CLARA HARDY. 

My acquaintance with Miss Clara Hardy be- 
gan the Spring before she went to her work in 
Mexico. I first met her at a morning service in 
the Rush Baptist Church of which I was pastor 
at that time. It being a very busy day for me 
I did not have time to think of the gentle faced, 

111 



sweet voiced woman I had met for the first 
time that morning. But there were other op- 
portunities ; I saw the love and respect shown 
by all those who knew her. I soon found its 
source. Her's was a face once seen, was not 
easily expunged from the memory. Added to 
this was a winning way that won all with whom 
she came in contact. In August of the same 
year she visited us at our home and I had a bet- 
ter opportunity to observe her. You could 
not talk with her long without noticing 
her loyalty to her Lord and Saviour. Every 
thing must take second place to Him. The 
work to which she believed the Lord had called 
her seemed to occupy all her thoughts and con- 
sumed her zeal. In her eyes it seemed a slight 
thing in comparison with what her Saviour had 
done for her, that she should leave home and 
friends to carry His light and love to the poor 
and downtrodden of Mexico. Second in devo- 
tion to her Saviour was her loyalty to the 
church of her choice. She was ever ready to 
defend its doctrines and usages. 

Her faith was unquestioning. There seemed 
to be no doubt in her mind but that the Lord 
had a work for her in Mexico. Though it 
seems strange to us looking back from the end 
to the beginning that a life so young and full of 
promises should be taken away almost before 
that work had its beginning. But the Lord 
moves in mysterious ways "His wonders to 

112 



perform. 1 ' The life was cut of in its bud. Our 
Great Commander has used it and will continue 
to use it to encourage his workers to constancy 
and perfect trust. And its example to those 
for whom it was given may induce them to 
make her Saviour their Saviour. She has 
gone to her mansion on high, but the influence 
of her life remains, and we can almost hear it 
whisper in the language of the poet: 

Be tranquil, O my soul, 

Be quiet every fear! 
Thy Father hath control, 

And he is ever near. 
Ne'er of thy lot complain, 

Whatever may befall; 
Sickness, or care, or pain, 

'Tis well-appointed all. 

J. C. Madden, 

Roxbury, N. Y. 



113 



IN MEMORIAM. 

MEMORIAL SERVICES CONDUCTED AT DELAWARE 
STREET BAPTIST CHURCH OF SYRA- 
CUSE, N. Y. 

An impressive memorial service was held in 
the Delaware St. Baptist church of Syracuse, 
N. Y., Sunday morning, January 24th, 1897, 
for "Our Beloved Clara B. Hardy," mission- 
ary to Pueblo, Mexico, who was called to her 
heavenly rest, January 9th, 1897. 

At the following session of the Bible' school, 
Supt. J. A \Ltck:tv appointed the pastor. 
Mrs. F. B. Gray and Mrs. F. R. Harris to 
prepare a brief memorial of our young mis- 
sionary martyr, to be read at the next session, 
and to be placed on the records of the "Bible 
School." 

Clara B. Hardy was born in Orwell. Brad- 
ford County, Pennsylvania, March 13th, 1871. 
She attended the common schools until she 
was fourteen, at which time she entered the 
Grammar school at Binghamton, N. Y. , where 
she passed preliminary regents. From here 
she continued in Montrose High school, grad- 
uating in 1893, after which she devoted some 
time to teaching in Frankly n Township, Penn- 
sylvania, 

114 



In her school relations she met and became 
engaged to an associate teacher. She was con- 
verted in November, 1891, and became a mem- 
ber of the East Rush, M. E. church. Early 
iu the autumn of 1893 she came to Syracuse, 
intending after a short time to return to her 
home for the consummation of her marriage 
engagement. 

B) her visit to this city she was at once 
brought into contact with the Delaware street 
Baptist church. Her previous convictions re- 
specting the doctrine and requirements of bap- 
tism led her at once to seek an interview with 
the pastor to whom she said, "I am a Bap- 
tist and if the church thinks I am a proper 
subject for baptism, I would like now to be 
baptised." Correspondence was then had 
with the East Rush pastor, who at once, not 
only forwarded her certificate of membership, 
hut in strong terms bore testimony to the 
beauty and strength of her promising Christian 
character and life. The statement of her ex- 
perience made a profound impression upon all 
who heard it. When first converted she felt 

strongly prompted to devote her life to mis- 
sionary work. These early impressions, how- 
ever, gradually disappeared as she pursued her 
school duties. 

She was baptized October 15th, 1893, and 
continued in fellowship with the church until 
her translation. Bv one of the beautiful and 



11* 



heaven directed concurrences Bhe attended ■ 
meeting of the Y. P. S. G E. in the earlier 
part of the evening upon which >)ie was bap- 
tized. Her early impressions respecting 
missionary work returned with sudden and al- 
most commanding authority. Three hours 
later she went down into the typical grave of 
her Lord, then there, really, rather than sym- 
bolically she appeared to die to self and to be 
raised up into a new Christ life: from that 
moment with all her present and prospective 
possibilities she was given to Christ and for 
Christ and for missionary work. 

Later she went to her home to make her 
first great sacrifice for Christ. Her be- 
trothed heard with surprise and deep sorrow 
of her changed purposes and plans — the mat- 
rimonial alliance was broken. What this 
meant for Clara, only those who knew her 
loving, trusting, confident heart can judge. 
The ardency of her love for him was exceeded 
only by her heroic and self sacrificing devotion 
to her Lord. 

Confronted by almost innumerable hin- 
drances, and except an audacious faith, almost 
insurmountable obstacles have entered her 
preparitory at the Chicago Training school. 

In obedience to her Lord, in the autumn of 
1894 she went from us leaving for all who knew 
her the private example and public testimony 
of a complete life; soul and body surrendered 

IIS 



to Christ and devoted to His sei vice. The 
testimony given her pastor by her teacher and 
associate in the Training school, as well as ap- 
pearing in her private correspondence may be 
briefly summarized. In class room, homes of 
poverty and sin and in the sabbatn school 
room she was c< nstantly and unconsciously 
demonstrating the strength of her intellect, the 
depth of her piety, the completeness and beauty 
of her consecration and the power of her 
spirit-filled soul. Many of her letters written 
to her friends in Syracuse during this time are 
worthy a place in the most cherished and sa- 
cred of our missionary literature. Graduating 
in the spring of 1896, she came back to us 
fully settled in her convictions that her Master 
would have her go to that country " bound by 
Rome" — Mexico. From the moment "His 
Will" was known all the love and desire and 
hope of her soul were turned toward the des- 
ignated field. As it was not thought best by 
the missionary board for her to go to Mexico 
in the spring, she was sent to Philadelphia 
and vicinity for the purpose of attending and 
addressing associational meetings in the inter- 
est of missions. 

On her way to and from Philadelphia she 
stopped at her dear "church home" in Syra- 
cuse, where by public address and private talk 
she turned many loving hearts and earnest 
prayers toward her future field. November 6, 

117 



1896, from a church of loving friends she left 
us for Pueblo and for Heaven. She reached 
Pueblo, November 17. About December 23, 
while visiting the sick she called at a home in 
which some children were sick with small pox. 
She was stricken on January 2, 1897, and Jan- 
uary 9, resignedly, joyfully, truimphantlv. 
she went to be with Him whose she was and 
whom she served. Your committee does not 
know how to pay a higher tribute to the mem- 
ory of our beloved sister Clara than by this 
simple, unadorned review of her brief and 
beautiful life. We are glad we knew her so long 
and so well, we are glad she was one of our Sun- 
day school scholars and teachers. It is a pecu- 
liar pleasure to remember that we assisted her 
by somewhat generous gifts. We did love her; 
we do cherish her memory. But most of all 
let us pray that the spirit of this first christian 
martyr of our young church may be extended, 
enlarged and intensified, and that our dear 
Clara B. Hardy's Pueblo, Mexico, may re- 
ceive from us, and by her death, more than her 
bravest faith had dared to hope for it by her 
continued life. May our final and full tribute 
to her memory, be the translation, and trans- 
figuration of all our love and sorrow into 
missionary zeal and endeavor. 

Rev. K. E. Burton, 
Mrs. F. B. Gray, 
Mrs. F. R. Harris. 

finis. 



Jan - 28 1901 



JAN 17 1901 







LIBRARY OF CONGRESS * 

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